Ichthyologia 

Ohiensis 


The  edition  consists  of  two 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/ichthyologiaohie01rafi 


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Constantine  Samuel  rafinesque 

[ From  his  Analyse  de  la  Nature.  ] 


Ichthyologia  Ohiensis 

or  Natural  History  of  the 
Fishes  Inhabiting  the  River 
Ohio  and  its  Tributary  Streams 

BY 

C.  S.  Rafinesque 

A verbatim  et  literatim  reprint  of 
the  original,  with  a Sketch  of  the  Life, 
the  Ichthyologic  Work,  and  the  Ich- 
thyologic Bibliography  of  Rafinesque 

BY 

Richard  Ellsworth  Call,  m.sc.  m.a.  m.d.  Ph.D 


Cleveland 

The  Burrows  Brothers  Co 

1 899 


Copyright,  1899 

BY 

The  Burrows  Brothers  Co 


ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


The  Imperial  Press , Cleveland 


Contents 


Preface  .... 

. . 1 1 

Biographic  Sketch 

• i5 

Ichthyologic  Work 

• 25 

IcHTHYOLOGIA  OhIENSIS  (Text) 

• 37 

Bibliographia  Ichthyologia 

• 163 

Appendix 

• i73 

Illustrations 


Constantine  Samuel  Rafinesque  Frontispiece 

From  his  Analyse  de  la  Nature. 

Facsimile  of  Title-Page  of  the  Original  . 39 

From  the  copy  in  the  Library  of  the  Historical  and 
Philosophical  Society  of  Ohio. 

Sketch  in  Rafinesque’s  Letter  to  Dr.  Daniel 

Drake  .....  175 


Preface 


The  great  importance  of  the  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis  in 
ichthyologic  nomenclature,  coupled  with  its  rarity, — 
the  existence  of  but  eight  copies  being  certainly 
known, — makes  necessary  the  republication  of  the 
work.  In  this  edition,  every  fact  of  value  to  the 
bibliographer  has  been  studiously  regarded.  Our 
reprint  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  original,  including  all 
typographic  errors,  excepting  only  the  style  of  type. 

We  follow  the  original  publication  of  the  Fishes  of 
the  River  Ohio  as  presented  in  The  Western  Review  and 
Miscellaneous  Magazine,  a literary  journal,  published 
at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  by  William  Gibbes  Hunt, 
during  the  years  1819-21.  The  publication  of  the 
papers  in  question  began  in  December,  1819,  and 
proceeded  at  more  or  less  regular  intervals  until 
their  completion  in  November,  1820.  During  the 
publication  of  the  magazine  articles,  Rafinesque  had 
the  matter  arranged  in  octavo  forms,  and  reprinted 
from  the  same  type.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
separate  introductory  titles  to  the  several  articles 
were  omitted  in  the  oversheets  thus  arranged,  the 
pagination  is  slightly  different,  and  the  page  matter 
is  not  exactly  the  same,  in  the  place  of  original 
publication  and  in  Rafinesque’s  separate  edition.  To 
facilitate  reference  to  both  editions,  the  magazine 
pagination  is  inserted  in  its  proper  place  in  the  text, 
bracketed  and  in  roman  type ; the  pagination  of  the 
Ichthyologia  is  likewise  inserted,  in  italic  type. 


12 


ICHTH YOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


To  further  facilitate  bibliographic  accuracy,  the 
subjoined  table  will  serve  to  help.  Especially  is  this 
inserted  here  in  order  that  certain  data,  omitted  in  a 
similar  list  by  Dr.  David  S.  Jordan,  in  his  “ Review 
of  Rafinesque’s  Memoirs  on  North  American  Fishes,” 
U.  S.  National  Museum , 1877,  Bulletin  no.  ix.,  p.  7, 
may  be  supplied,  and  that  certain  errors  therein,  in 
the  matter  of  pagination  and  numbering  of  the  parts 
of  volumes,  may  be  corrected : 


VOL. 

NO. 

DATE. 

SERIES  NO. 

W.  R.  & M.  M. 

1.  0. 

1. 

5- 

December,  1819. 

1. 

305-313- 

1 -13- 

6. 

January,  1820. 

11. 

361-377- 

13-29. 

11. 

I. 

February,  1820. 

hi. 

49-  57- 

29-37. 

3- 

April,  1820. 

IV. 

169-  177. 

37-45- 

4- 

May,  1820. 

V. 

235-242. 

45-  53- 

5- 

June,  1820. 

VI. 

299-307. 

53  - 60. 

6. 

July,  1820. 

VII. 

355-  363- 

60-69. 

hi. 

3- 

October,  1820. 

VIII. 

165-173. 

69-77. 

4- 

November,  1820. 

IX. 

244-252. 

77-84. 

By  the  aid  of  this  table,  the  investigator  of  the  fresh- 
water fishes  of  the  Ohio  valley  will  be  able  to  verify 
any  citation  from  either  the  Ichthyologia  or  from  the 
original  publication  in  The  Western  Review  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Magazine. 

I am  under  great  obligations  to  Reuben  T.  Durrett, 
LL.D.,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  for  the  opportunity 
to  transcribe  the  text  of  this  reprint  from  the  orig- 
inal, and  for  numerous  favors  connected  with  the 
consultation  of  rare  bibliographic  matter  in  his 
library.  Robert  Clarke,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  has 
enabled  me  to  consult  the  only  copy  of  the  Ichthyologia 
known  to  exist  in  the  city,  in  the  library  of  the  His- 
torical and  Philosophical  Society  of  Ohio.  He  also 
had  copied  for  me  the  additions  which  appear  as  a 


PREFACE 


13 


supplement  in  the  Ichtkyologia,  together  with  the 
index.  Rafinesque  therein  has  corrected  certain 
errors  in  typography,  and  made  a few  changes  in 
nomenclature,  which  usually  escape  the  attention  of 
those  students  who  depend  for  information  solely  on 
the  very  rare  magazine  in  which  his  papers  originally 
appeared. 

The  bibliography  is  reproduced  from  my  Life  and 
Writings  of  Rafinesque , which  appeared  in  January, 
1895,  as  “ Filson  Club  Publications  Number  Ten.” 
The  portrait  is  reproduced  from  the  same  volume, 
and  is  that  which  appeared  in  1810  in  the  Analyse  de 
la  Nature , in  Sicily. 

R.  E.  C. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  December,  1898. 


Biographic  Sketch 


Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Rafinesque 


The  author  of  the  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis , Constantine 
Samuel  Rafinesque,  was  born  in  Galata,  a suburb  of 
Constantinople,  October  22,  1783.  His  father  was  a 
French  merchant  of  Marseilles,  and  his  mother, 
Grecian  born,  of  German  parentage,  from  Saxony. 
Very  little  is  known  of  the  antecedents  of  Rafinesque, 
and  the  family  name  is  now  extinct.  The  early  life 
of  the  lad  was  not  dissimilar  from  that  of  his  asso- 
ciates, save  in  the  one  respect  that  he  early  developed 
a love  for  Nature  and  the  thousand  varied  ways  in 
which  her  life  laws  were  exemplified  around  him. 
The  birds,  plants,  insects,  and  fish  of  his  various 
homes  — for  his  family  frequently  changed  its  resi- 
dence, owing  to  the  business  necessities  of  his 
father  — early  attracted  his  attention,  and  became 
the  objects  of  his  curious  study.  He  seems  to  have 
been  allowed  full  liberty  in  these  matters,  his  scho- 
lastic training  suffering  to  some  extent  through  his 
great  love  of  outdoor  life.  His  father  died  when 
the  lad  was  about  eleven  years  of  age,  after  which 
time  his  mother  had  the  sole  direction  of  his  train- 
ing. His  early  reading  was  characterized  by  inor- 
dinate love  of  books  of  travel  and  adventure,  further 
fostered,  perhaps,  by  his  father’s  accounts  of  his 
travels,  upon  mercantile  expeditions  to  foreign  lands. 
At  a very  early  period  Rafinesque  determined  to 
become  “a  great  traveler,”  and  for  some  years  of 


18 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


his  early  manhood  it  would  appear  that  his  ambition 
was  to  be  gratified. 

Rafinesque  made  two  voyages  to  America,  the  first 
in  the  year  1802.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  in  com- 
pany with  his  younger  brother  Anthony  Augustus, 
he  landed  in  Philadelphia,  “ provided  with  an 
adventure  and  many  letters  of  introduction.”  His 
father  had  conducted  various  mercantile  adventures 
in  that  city,  and  had  died  there  of  the  yellow  fever,  in 
1793.  Rafinesque  himself  had,  at  this  time,  settled 
upon  the  life  of  a merchant  for  his  future  occupation, 
and  to  the  duties  of  his  new  relation  he  addressed 
himself  with  energy.  But  his  love  for  the  woods 
and  fields,  the  flowers  and  animals  there  to  be  found, 
so  well  developed  during  the  years  of  his  boyhood, 
soon  enticed  him  from  the  counting-room  and  the 
wearisome  duties  of  a clerkship,  and  he  began  anew 
to  cultivate  Nature.  Pie  had  already  done  very  much 
among  the  plants  of  Italy  and  in  France,  in  the 
region  round  about  Marseilles,  and  he  was  not 
entirely  unacquainted  with  the  Linnean  system  of 
classification  and  nomenclature.  On  his  arrival  in 
America,  from  the  very  first  the  new  and  rich  plant 
life  had  attracted  his  attention,  and  the  long  walks 
he  took  about  the  suburbs  of  Philadelphia  soon  made 
him  acquainted  with  its  floral  wealth.  Pie  minutely 
described  all  the  plants  he  found,  as  he  himself 
remarks,  and  made  drawings  of  many  of  them. 
Though  bent  on  fortune,  he  had  time  for  recreation, 
taken  in  these  long  scientific  walks,  and  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  botanical  work  on  American  plants 
in  later  years. 

During  this  stay  in  Philadelphia,  Rafinesque  made 
the  acquaintance  of  John  D.  Clifford,  afterward  a 


BIOGRAPHIC  SKETCH 


19 


resident  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  which  chance 
acquaintance,  first  formed  through  business  relations, 
afterward  ripened  into  a warm  personal  and  scien- 
tific friendship.  This  intimacy  had  powerful  influ- 
ence in  determining  the  later  sequence  of  events  in 
the  life  of  our  author. 

During  the  summer  of  1802,  the  yellow  fever  again 
made  its  appearance  in  Philadelphia,  and  Rafinesque, 
remembering  the  sad  experience  of  his  father  in 
1793,  abandoned  the  clerkship  and  the  city  for  the 
summer,  and  went  into  the  country.  Here  he  de- 
voted himself  assiduously  to  the  collection  and  the 
study  of  plants,  increasing  his  knowledge  of  the 
region  by  extensive  collecting  trips  which  took  him 
far  within  the  borders  of  the  neighboring  States. 
During  this  summer  he  was  afforded  abundant  oppor- 
tunity thus  to  gratify  a taste  which  had  been  culti- 
vated since  boyhood ; and  we  are  not  surprised  to  find 
that,  at  its  conclusion,  Rafinesque  returned  to  the 
drudgery  of  business  with  laggard  steps,  and  that 
the  irksome  quiet  of  the  office  could  not  satisfactorily 
replace  the  joys  and  pleasures  of  the  woods  and  fields. 

In  1804,  Rafinesque  resigned  his  clerkship  to  his 
younger  brother,  Augustus,  and  here  ended,  for  a 
time,  all  attempt  at  a business  life.  He  now  devoted 
almost  all  his  time  to  the  collection  of  the  rich  flora 
about  Philadelphia  and  the  accessible  portions  of  the 
States  adjoining,  having  already  concluded  to  return 
to  Europe.  How  extensive  these  collections  were 
one  will  never  know;  but,  if  a judgment  be  based 
upon  the  usual  activities  of  Rafinesque  in  these  mat- 
ters, he  must  have  secured  large  numbers  of  plants. 
Thus  passed  the  period  until  January,  1805,  when 
both  Rafinesque  and  his  brother,  “ who  would  follow 


20 


ICHTH YOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


him,”  set  sail  for  Sicily.  He  reached  that  beautiful 
island  of  the  Mediterranean  in  the  following  May. 

For  the  next  ten  years  he  resided  in  Sicily,  and, 
though  these  years  were  characterized  by  scientific 
work  accomplished  under  difficulties  and  under  pres- 
sure of  business  interests  which  would  have  made 
any  other  man  wealthy,  they  brought  to  Rafinesque 
little  save  disappointment.  This  period  of  his  life 
was  also  marked  by  some  of  the  harshest  experiences 
which  come  to  men,  and  these  seem  to  have  had 
great  weight  in  determining  the  course  of  the  mental 
life  of  Rafinesque.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  pass  over 
this  period  with  the  barest  mention  of  the  more  im- 
portant episodes.  Among  these  was  the  mesalliance 
of  Rafinesque  with  one  Josephine  Vaccaro,  an  adven- 
turess, to  whom  he  considered  himself  legally 
married,  though  no  ritual,  either  civic  or  ecclesiastic, 
was  ever  celebrated.  There  resulted  from  this  union 
two  children, — a boy  who  died  in  1815,  at  the  age  of 
one  year,  and  a daughter  who  became  a ballet  dancer 
and  singer  in  Palermo.  Harassed  by  business  re- 
verses, and  the  mercantile  treachery  of  the  Sicilians 
with  whom  he  had  commercial  relations,  Rafinesque 
finally  determined  again  to  visit  America  and  to  try 
anew  the  fortunes  of  the  New  World.  He  left  his 
wife  in  charge  of  some  of  his  property,  and  set  sail 
with  the  balance  of  his  possessions  in  the  summer  of 
1815.  His  experiences  on  this  memorable  voyage 
read  like  a romance,  ending  in  shipwreck,  at  the  east- 
ern end  of  Long  Island  Sound,  on  Fisher’s  Island, 
involving  the  total  loss  of  all  his  years  of  toil,  both 
scientific  and  mercantile.  At  home,  too,  fortune 
proved  fickle;  his  wife  “ suddenly  married  Giovanni 
Pizzalour,  a comedian,”  and  dissipated  the  remainder 


BIOGRAPHIC  SKETCH 


21 


of  his  possessions.  Thus  ended  the  domestic  life  of 
Rafinesque,  and  thus  ended  his  worldly  prospects  at 
the  time  of  his  second  visit  to  America.  Few  men 
are  there  who  would  have  done  better  than  Rafi- 
nesque did  under  these  untoward  circumstances. 
Though  broken  in  spirit  and  discouraged,  he  did  not 
completely  surrender  to  the  odds  of  the  unequal 
struggle,  but  started  in  anew  to  woo  the  coy  goddess 
men  call  Fortune;  this  time,  however,  with  purely 
scientific  ends  in  view,  and  with  nothing  to  hold 
him,  except  painful  recollections,  to  his  unfortunate 
past.  Like  a man  he  faced  disaster,  and  like  a man 
he  rose  above  adverse  surroundings. 

Two  or  three  years  passed  in  the  neighborhood  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  mainly  devoted  to  scien- 
tific work,  and  that  work  primarily  botanical,  when 
Rafinesque  conceived  the  plan  of  a botanical  excur- 
sion beyond  the  Alleghanies  into  the  great  valley  of 
the  Ohio.  At  Louisville,  on  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio, 
dwelt  one  Tarascon,  a friend  of  his  youth  in  Mar- 
seilles; and  Clifford,  whom  he  had  met  in  Philadel- 
phia, was  now  a resident  of  Lexington,  the  Athens 
of  the  West  at  that  time.  The  fame  of  Audubon,  at 
Henderson,  had  reached  the  ears  of  Rafinesque ; and 
he  was  not  a stranger  to  that  erratic  scientific  com- 
munity which  had  established  itself  under  Richard 
Owen,  at  New  Harmony,  on  the  Wabash.  This 
latter  community  was  a scientific  center  in  the  new 
world,  and  Rafinesque  knew  some  of  the  individuals 
constituting  its  personnel.  All  these  facts  combined 
to  render  the  proposed  excursion  attractive  to  Rafi- 
nesque, and  in  the  year  1 8 1 8 he  set  out,  afoot,  on  the 
long  journey. 

The  incidents  of  travel  were  many,  but  must  be 


22 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


passed  here  in  silence.  The  most  important  fact  of 
the  expedition  was  the  meeting  with  John  D.  Clif- 
ford, at  Lexington,  who  was  instrumental  in  procur- 
ing the  election  of  Rafinesque  to  a professorship  in 
the  great  Transylvania  University,  then  in  the  prime 
of  vigorous  growth  under  the  presidency  of  the 
eminent  Unitarian  divine,  Reverend  Horace  Holly. 
This  marks  the  period  of  the  greatest  intellectual 
and  literary  attainments  of  Rafinesque,  and  gave  him 
the  opportunity  he  so  long  had  sought.  He  was  in 
a veritable  new  world ; the  plants  and  animals  had 
never  been  either  collected  or  studied;  the  hand  of 
the  husbandman  had  not  yet  destroyed  much  of  the 
primitive  forest;  untold  wealth  of  natural  forms 
appealed  to  Rafinesque,  the  Nature-lover,  as  they 
have  rarely  appealed  to  any  man.  To-day  even,  in 
the  face  of  the  check  which  specialization  furnishes 
to  scientific  investigators,  few  men  could  withstand 
this  lavish  display  of  new  and  unknown  forms! 
They  were  on  every  hand,  in  every  glade  and  mead, 
every  brook  and  spring,  the  creeks,  the  rivers,  the 
very  rocks  themselves.  Like  a school-boy  Rafinesque 
searched  and  found,  studied,  described,  drew,  sent 
abroad,  the  wonderful  forms  in  which  he,  almost 
alone,  now  reveled.  Here  was  his  one  serious  mis- 
take ; but  in  face  of  the  facts  we  may  well  pardon  his 
widely  scattered  energy. 

Rafinesque  remained  nearly  eight  years  at  Tran- 
sylvania University;  these  were  years  of  constant  toil, 
with  no  one  to  sympathize  with  his  work,  for  his 
friend  Clifford  had  died  in  the  second  year  of  his 
residence  at  Lexington.  The  exposure  and  hard 
work, — for  Rafinesque  was  an  incessant  worker,  tak- 
ing little  rest, — coupled  with  that  Sicilian  “ skeleton 


BIOGRAPHIC  SKETCH 


23 


in  the  closet,”  had  their  influence  in  undermining 
the  once  strong  and  vigorous  mind ; and  the  close  of 
the  Lexington  residence  marks  the  beginning  of  the 
decadence  of  the  mental  clearness  of  Rafinesque, 
who,  henceforth,  met  with  naught  but  misfortune. 
But  the  important  pages  of  the  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis 
had  been  prepared  and  published,  the  other  numer- 
ous biologic  papers  had  found  their  way  to  the  world 
of  science,  and  the  Rafinesque  of  succeeding  years 
has  little  or  nothing  of  value  to  the  man  of  science, 
and  particularly  none  to  the  ichthyologist. 

Rafinesque  left  Lexington,  in  anger  and  haste,  in 
the  year  1825,  to  become  again  a citizen  of  Philadel- 
phia. After  fifteen  long  years  of  further  unequal 
and  lonely  struggle,  after  all  but  complete  mental 
wreck,  after  the  loss  of  mercantile  emoluments,  after 
bitter  personal  animosities  with  scientific  men,  after 
untoward  experiences  with  the  publishers  of  his 
numerous  books  and  pamphlets,  Rafinesque  surren- 
dered to  his  last  visitor,  Death.  Life  closed  in  a lonely 
garret,  amid  filth  and  poverty,  at  Philadelphia,  in 
the  year  1840.  He  lies  buried  in  an  unmarked  grave 
in  Ronaldson’s  Cemetery,  Philadelphia,  Ninth  and 
Catherine  streets.  Peace  came  at  last  to  him  who  in 
life  knew  none ! 


Ichthyologic  Work 


Ichthyologic  Work 


The  papers  and  books  published  by  Rafinesque 
which  relate  to  ichthyologic  matters  date  from  the 
year  1810.  The  list  is  headed  by  the  Caratteri  di 
alcuni  nuovi  ge?ieri,  etc. , based  upon  his  studies  of  the 
fishes  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  field  thus  entered 
was  almost  unoccupied,  and  there  was  little  of  sys- 
tematic history  before  his  time.  The  elder  Pliny, 
and  a few  since  his  time,  had  recorded  various  vaga- 
ries and  some  valuable  facts  relating  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean forms ; but. systematic  ichthyology  was  unborn 
until  about  the  advent  of  Rafinesque.  A single  con- 
temporary of  Rafinesque,  A.  Risso,  of  Nice,  had 
accomplished  some  systematic  work  and  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  the  ichthyology  of  the  Mediterranean.* 
Whether  Rafinesque  knew  of  the  work  of  Risso  at 
the  time  he  published  his  first  paper,  is  a matter  of 
difference  of  opinion.  It  is,  however,  quite  certain 
that,  though  Rafinesque  described  fifty-one  new 
genera  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  new  species 
of  Mediterranean  fishes  in  the  Caratteri , his  work  was 

*The  full  title  of  this  famous  work  of  Risso’s,  for  which  I am  in- 
debted to  the  courtesy  of  President  David  Starr  Jordan,  of  Stanford 
University,  is  as  follows: 

Ichthyologie  | de  Nice,  | ou  | Histoire  Naturelle  des  Poissons  | du 
department  des  alpes  maritimes;  | Par  A.  Risso,  | Membre  associe 
de  l’Academie  Imperiale  de  Turin,  Corres-  | pondant  de  la  Societe 

philomatique  de  Paris,  etc.  | | Est  quadam  prodire  tenus,  si  non 

datur  ultra.  | Horat.  Epist.  Lib.  I.  | | Avec  II  planches  repre- 

sentant  40  poissons  nouveaux.  | Paris,  | Chez  F.  Schoell,  rue  des 
F osses-Saint-Germain-  | l’Auxerrois,  No.  29.  | | 1810. 


28 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


less  well  done  than  that  of  Risso  who  immediately- 
preceded  him.  Risso  better  characterized  his  new 
forms;  Rafinesque,  on  the  other  hand,  had  already 
lapsed  into  those  careless  methods  of  description 
which  have  caused  succeeding  naturalists  so  much 
trouble,  and  have  led  to  so  great  a confusion  in  estab- 
lishing certain  facts  in  nomenclature.  Nevertheless, 
Rafinesque  had  already  discovered  the  inadequacy  of 
the  Cuverian  system,  and  had  boldly  made  the  on- 
slaught on  the  ranks  of  the  artificial  genera.  What- 
ever else  may  be  finally  decided  concerning  the  work 
of  Rafinesque  on  the  fishes  of  the  Mediterranean,  it 
will  always  be  allowed  that  he  shares  equally  with 
Lacepede,  whose  classic  Histoire  naturelle  des  Poissons 
was  not  unknown  to  him,  the  distinction  of  breaking 
up  the  old-time  heterogeneous  assemblages  of  the 
Cuverian  system  and  of  thus  determining  the  forma- 
tion of  generic  subdivisions.  Indeed,  it  is  quite 
probable  that  Rafinesque  saw  this  necessity  before 
any  other  writer,  since  the  subdivisions  of  Lac6pede 
are  not,  properly  speaking,  genera.  Rafinesque  seg- 
regated the  groups,  suggested  their  terminology, 
named  the  type,  and  in  a very  definite  sense  became 
the  father  of  the  new  regime. 

The  Caratteri  was  followed  by  several  other  papers, 
noted  in  the  bibliography  at  the  close  of  this  volume, 
all  of  which  related,  so  far  as  they  concerned  ichthyo- 
logic matters,  to  the  fauna  of  the  Mediterranean. 
The  institution  of  additional  genera,  and  the  descrip- 
tion of  new  species,  occupy  most  of  these  papers. 
But,  in  all  this  work,  there  are  certain  facts  which 
the  student  must  ever  carry  in  mind  in  seeking  to 
unravel  the  maze  of  the  Mediterranean  fishes.  It 
should  always  be  remembered  that  Rafinesque  de- 


ICHTHYOLOGIC  WORK 


29 


scribed  from  the  fresh  specimen ; he  was  a constant 
visitor  at  the  fish-markets  of  Palermo ; he  had  such 
relations  with  the  Sicilian  fishermen  that  they  brought 
him  all  the  rare  and  odd  forms  which  fell  in  their 
way.  All,  or  nearly  all,  of  the  other  earlier  descrip- 
tions were  based  upon  alcoholic  types,  and  their 
diagnoses  were  made  from  shrunken  and  discolored 
specimens ; add  to  this  the  fact  that  descriptive  ter- 
minology was  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  that  exact 
scientific  processes  of  measurement  and  color  schemes 
were  yet  unknown,  and  the  student  will  find  a ready 
solution  of  some  of  the  more  important  discrepancies 
between  the  work  of  Rafinesque  and  that  of  his 
contemporaries . 

It  must  ever  be  accounted  a most  unfortunate  cir- 
cumstance that  Rafinesque  did  not  preserve,  in  some 
manner,  the  types  of  his  genera.  Once  the  technical 
description  was  completed,  with  a reference  to  some 
common  form,  if  one  chanced  to  be  known,  the  fish 
was  thrown  away  or  in  • some  other  manner  failed  of 
preservation.  Rafinesque  had  no  further  use  for  it ! 
At  the  time  of  his  Sicilian  residence,  he  enjoyed  the 
companionship  and  advice  of  the  celebrated  English 
naturalist,  Swainson,  then  living  in  Sicily,  who  has 
recorded  this  habit  of  carelessness,  and  who  persist- 
ently yet  vainly  urged  upon  Rafinesque  the  necessity 
of  preserving  his  types.  It  is  to  Swainson ’s  account 
of  these  days  that  all  modern  students  are  indebted 
for  exact  information  concerning  the  lax  methods  of 
Rafinesque. 

In  December,  1817,  Rafinesque  published  his  first 
paper  on  American  fishes.  It  appeared  in  The  Ameri- 
can Monthly  Magazine  and  Critical  Review,  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
120,  12 1,  and  was  entitled  “ First  Decade  of  new 


30 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


North- American  Fishes.”  During  the  next  two 
years  Rafinesque  published  nine  additional  papers, 
all  but  two  of  which  appeared  in  various  American 
periodicals  of  that  day.  The  other  two  were  pub- 
lished, one  in  France  and  one  in  England.  All  of 
these  papers  dealt  solely  with  the  fishes  of  the  inte- 
rior fresh  waters  of  the  United  States,  and  were 
mainly  concerned  with  fishes  inhabiting  the  Ohio 
River  or  its  tributaries.  In  a very  definite  sense, 
therefore,  prior  to  the  publication  of  the  Ichthyologia 
which  began  in  the  year  1819,  Rafinesque  laid  the 
foundations  of  North  American  fresh- water  ichthyol- 
ogy. Some  of  the  genera  and  species  which  he  then 
established  in  occasional  publications  are  still  recog- 
nized by  students  in  this  special  field;  others  he 
himself  changed,  or  dropped  into  synonymy,  in  the 
one  great  work,  the  Ichthyologia.  In  this  connection 
it  should  be  remembered  that  only  a single  paper 
relating  to  American  fresh-water  fishes  had  as  yet 
appeared,  and  that  one  was  written  by  the  celebrated 
and  early  naturalist  Le  Sueur,  who  had,  in  1817, 
published  his  Notice  de  quelques  Poissons  dlcouverts  dans 
les  lacs  du  Haut-Canada,  durant  V etl  de  1816. 

There  are  certain  facts  of  a bibliographic  charac- 
ter which  the  student  may  readily  glean  from  the 
Ichthyologia  itself,  and  which  will  be  passed  over  in 
this  place.  Inasmuch  as  they  relate  mainly  to  the 
dates  and  place  of  original  publication  they  are,  in 
this  connection,  unimportant.  But  the  nature  of  the 
collections  upon  which  the  volume  is  based,  the 
localities  at  which  Rafinesque  collected,  the  fictitious 
forms  which  he  described  on  the  authority  of  others, 
the  misapprehension  of  certain  structural  charac- 
ters,— all  are  important,  and  must  be  understood,  if 


ICHTHYOLOGIC  WORK 


31 


one  would  assign  the  author  of  the  Ichthyologia  to  his 
proper  place  in  the  history  of  American  ichthyology. 
So  far  as  it  is  possible,  these  facts  will  now  be 
presented. 

When  Rafinesque  entered  upon  his  first  western 
tour,  in  the  summer  of  1 8 1 8,  he  passed  from  Pitts- 
burg, with  numerous  stops,  to  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio, 
at  Louisville,  by  means  of  an  “ark,” — a sort  of 
cabin  flatboat  common  on  the  Ohio  in  the  early 
days.  At  each  place  where  stops  were  made  he 
embraced  the  opportunity  to  acquire  information 
concerning  the  fishes,  far  more  numerous  at  that  time 
than  now,  since  sewerage  and  similar  decimating 
influences  were  at  their  minimum.  Many  of  the  facts 
he  gathered  were  noted  in  the  neatly  and  regularly 
kept  note-books,  for  which  Rafinesque  was  famous. 
In  addition  to  the  knowledge  acquired  by  observa- 
tion, he  received  many  items  of  information  which 
were  in  the  nature  of  pure  romances,  communicated 
by  others.  These  Rafinesque  accepted  in  good  faith. 
Both  these  classes  of  items  were  afterward  embodied 
in  his  published  works,  with  scarcely  a hint  as  to 
either  their  source  or  their  nature.  But  the  first  of 
the  really  important  personal  collections  were  made  by 
him  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  a locality  abounding  in 
the  smaller  varieties,  and  remarkably  rich  in  indi- 
viduals of  the  genus  Etheostoma.  One  of  the  most 
beautiful  species  belonging  to  this  genus,  the  Etheos- 
toma flabellata,  was  described  from  the  Falls,  where 
it  is  still  very  abundant.  Later,  opportunity  was 
afforded  to  Rafinesque  to  collect  in  the  Kentucky 
River,  at  or  near  Frankfort;  in  the  Cumberland, 
both  near  Nashville  and  in  that  portion  of  its  course 
which  is  in  southeastern  Kentucky ; and  in  the  Green 


32 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


River,  not  far  from  Mammoth  Cave.  He  also  made 
a small  collection  near  Shepardsville,  in  the  Salt 
River.  At  all  of  these  places  more  or  less  extensive 
observations  on  the  fishes  were  conducted,  always  on 
the  living  forms,  none  of  which  were  preserved  after 
general  description  in  crude  and  ill-conceived  termi- 
nology. Some  of  his  observations  were  recorded  in 
proper  form  ; but,  later,  he  supplied  from  a treacher- 
ous memory  details  which  should  have  found  place 
in  his  original  notes,  taken  at  the  riverside. 

It  is  very  evident,  therefore,  that  the  modern  stu- 
dent who  would  attempt  to  understand  correctly  the 
species  of  Rafinesque  must  visit,  with  the  original 
descriptions  at  hand,  the  very  streams  which  the 
pioneer  ichthyologist  visited ; he  must  collect  and 
observe  the  fishes  in  a fresh  state,  and  not  after  their 
coloration  has  been  destroyed  and  their  forms  dis- 
torted by  alcoholic  preservation.  He  must  also  allow 
for  the  dearth  of  a special  literature,  because  there 
was  none  in  existence.  The  groupings  and  descrip- 
tions were  all,  of  necessity,  at  first  hand.  In  a field 
so  wide,  among  forms  so  numerous,  with  individuals 
often  very  closely  related,  as  is  the  case  in  the  large 
and  important  genus  Notropis,  before  the  days  when 
systematic  zoology  had  been  reduced  to  the  strictest 
methodical  basis,  when  sexual  variations  were  unsus- 
pected, and  when  nuptial  brilliancy  was  regarded  as 
a permanent  factor,  little  wonder  is  it  that  synonymy 
was  created,  and  that  the  true  relations  of  many  of 
the  fishes  actually  seen  were  misconceived. 

There  yet  remains  a most  important  detail  in  Rafi- 
nesque’s  work  on  the  fishes  of  the  Ohio  which  must 
have  explicit  mention.  During  Rafinesque’s  cele- 
brated visit  to  Audubon,  at  Henderson,  it  appears 


ICHTHYOLOGIC  WORK 


33 


that,  while  a guest  of  the  great  ornithologist,  he  was 
victimized  in  a most  cruel  and  reprehensible  manner, 
incidents  occurring  which,  in  after  years,  were  said 
to  have  been  but  a practical  joke.  Audubon’s  facile 
pencil  and  vivid  imagination  conspired  together  to 
produce  drawings  of  fishes,  said  to  dwell  in  the  Ohio, 
which  were  nothing  if  not  wonderful.  With  a suave 
manner  and  with  an  air  of  absolute  truthfulness, 
these  drawings  were  shown  to  Rafinesque,  and  the 
size  and  beauty  of  their  living  prototypes  proclaimed. 
With  a hesitation  that  is  painfully  evident,  in  some 
cases  at  least,  Rafinesque  yielded  to  his  penchant  for 
framing  new  genera  and  describing  new  species, — 
the  bane  of  later  gifted  writers,  by  the  way, — and 
gave  these  grotesque  forms  a name  and  place  in  the 
ichthyologic  system.  Time,  valuable  time,  has  been 
lost  in  the  vain  attempt  to  find  and  properly  place 
these  mythical  forms.  That  the  names  thus  bestowed 
should  be  dropped  goes  without  saying,  but  there 
are  those  who,  knowing  the  facts  in  these  cases, 
would  yet  insist  upon  relegating  all  the  names  pro- 
posed by  Rafinesque  to  the  limbo  of  synonymy.  It 
would  be  better  to  drop  these  names  without  preju- 
dice; following  this,  the  strict  rules  of  priority,  as 
enforced  by  the  fair-minded  man  of  science,  will 
eventually  determine  the  place  of  the  remainder  A 
There  have  been  two  almost  insuperable  difficul- 
ties encountered  in  attempting  to  correlate  Rafi- 
nesque’s  species  with  those  recognized  at  the  present 

*The  fishes  which  Rafinesque  thus  described  on  the  authority  of 
Audubon  are  the  following:  Perea  nigropunctata , Aplocentrus 
calliops , Pogostoma  leucops , Catostomus  anisopturus,  Catostomus 
niger , Catostomus  fasciolaris , Catostomus  (?)  megastomus,  Pylo- 
dictis  limosus,  Accipenser  macrostomus,  Dined es  truncatus. 


34 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


time.  The  first  of  these  has  been  mentioned  in  the 
cases  of  the  mythical  species  established  “ on  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Audubon.”  The  second  consists  in 
the  complete  absence  of  authentic  specimens.  None 
of  the  types  exist.  It  has  remained,  therefore,  for 
the  student  to  attempt  to  correlate  the  descriptions 
of  Rafinesque  with  those  of  later  writers,  some  of 
whom  were  in  utter  ignorance  of  his  work,  not  to  say 
species,  and  whose  later  determinations  and  descrip- 
tions are  often  based  upon  alcoholic  materials. 

The  limits  within  which  Rafinesque  collected 
fresh-water  fishes  in  the  Ohio  valley  have  been  indi- 
cated above.  It  should  be  a comparatively  easy 
matter  to  collect  in  the  streams  which  furnished  the 
pioneer  ichthyologist  his  data;  but,  so  far  as  the 
writer  is  informed,  a single  student  only,  President 
David  Starr  Jordan,  has  sought  thus  to  correlate  the 
various  descriptions,  and  thus  to  determine  the  synon- 
ymy. It  is  also  very  evident  that  Rafinesque  did  not 
regard  variations  in  coloration  and  minor  characters 
as  such,  but  magnified  them  into  facts  having  specific 
values,  so  far  as  species  go.  This  treatment  is  con- 
sonant with  that  which  he  has  accorded  to  numerous 
plants,  and  which  is  in  line  with  his  love  for  genus 
and  species  making.  In  the  presence  of  a rich  fauna, 
and  in  the  absence  of  a distinctive  literature,  this 
may  be  condoned,  though  one  must  always  regret 
that  Rafinesque  was  not  far  more  conservative. 

But  that  is  now  a matter  of  minor  consideration. 
The  important  facts  are,  that  fishes  were  collected 
by  Rafinesque  and  described  by  him  for  the  first 
time;  moreover,  they  came  from  the  Ohio  and  its 
tributaries ; some  of  them  are  recorded  as  being  rare, 
others  are  declared  to  be  abundant.  What  were 


ICHTHYOLOGIC  WORK 


35 


these  fishes?  That  is  the  one  question  which,  for 
some  species,  yet  awaits  solution.  A goodly  number 
have  been  finally  fixed  upon,  though  space  here 
forbids  listing  the  Rafinesquian  genera  and  species 
together  with  their  modern  nomenclatural  identities. 
So  far  as  this  has  yet  been  accomplished,  the  reader 
may  find  the  results  in  the  published  writings  of  Dr. 
David  Starr  Jordan.* 

The  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis  is,  therefore,  the  literary 
foundation  of  American  ichthyologic  science.  It 
marks  the  very  beginning  of  our  knowledge  of  the 
forms  of  the  Ohio  valley, — and,  incidentally,  of  the 
entire  Mississippi  system,  throughout  which  some  of 
the  forms  that  it  first  characterized  are  now  known 
to  range.  A knowledge  of  the  contents  of  this  book 
must  ever  be  indispensable  to  any  student  who 
attempts  to  work  in  this  rich  field.  Bold  almost 
beyond  conception  in  its  innovations  upon  accepted 
methods  of  nomenclature;  without  the  check  of  crit- 
ical comparison  of  forms  taken  over  a wide  geographic 
range;  faulty  as  it  certainly  is  in  the  perspicacity 
and  fullness  of  its  technical  descriptions;  tattooed 
here  and  there  with  mythical  names,  or  rendered 
almost  puerile  by  the  introduction  of  questionable 
details  secured  at  second-hand;  disregarding  the 
sequential  arrangement  of  its  families  and  genera, 
each  of  which  appears  to  be  considered  as  an  inde- 
pendent assemblage;  yet,  both  from  historic  and 

*The  chief  of  these,  up  to  the  present  time,  is  a “ Review  of 
Rafinesque’s  Memoirs  on  North  American  Fishes,”  U.  S.  National 
Museum , 1877,  Bulletin  no.  ix.  See  also  Jordan  and  Gilbert, 
“ Synopsis  of  the  Fishes  of  North  America,”  U.  S.  National  Mu- 
seum., 1883,  Bulletin  no.  xvi. ; Jordan  and  Evermann,  ‘‘The  Fishes 
of  North  and  Middle  America,”  U.  S.  National  Museum , 1896-98, 
Bulletin  no.  47,  [Four  volumes]. 


36 


ICH  THYOLOGIA  OH  IE  N SIS 


scientific  considerations,  a peculiarly  important  place 
must  be  assigned  to  this  remarkable  book  in  descrip- 
tive natural  history.  Its  final  value  will  be  lasting, 
if  not  great;  its  authority  recognized  rather  than 
contemned ; its  pioneer  nomenclature  and  inadequacy 
allowed  their  full  modicum  of  influence  in  tempering 
our  judgment  of  its  importance  in  ichthyologic  bibli- 
ography. It  is  a book  redolent  of  the  sweetness  of 
Nature,  rather  than  of  the  dust  of  libraries. 


TEXT 


Rafinesque’s  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis 


Text  reprinted  from  The  Western  Review  and  Miscel- 
laneous Magazine , vols.  i.-iii.  Supplement,  Corrections, 
and  Index  (not  published  in  The  Western  Review  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Magazine ) reprinted  from  Ichthyologia  Ohiensis , 
Lexington,  1820. 

The  original  magazine  volume  and  pagination,  is  indicated 
by  inclosing  within  brackets  the  number  of  the  volume  and 
page  in  roman  type ; the  pagination  of  the  Ichthyologia  is 
indicated  in  a similar  manner,  in  italic  type. 


©maaw^is® 


OR 

NATURAL  HISTORY 

OF 

TIIE  FISHES  INHABITING  THE 

HIVHH  OHIO 

AND  ITS  TRIBUTARY  STREAMS, 

Preceded  by  a physical  description  of  the  Ohio  and  its  branches. 


BY'  C.  S.  RAFINESQUE, 

Professor  of  Botany  and  Natural  History  in  Transylvania  University,  Au- 
thor of  the  Analysis  of  Nature,  &c.  &c.  Member  of  the  Literary  and 
Philosophical  Society  of  New-York,  the  Historical  Society  ofNew-York, 
the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York,  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  the  Royal 
Institute  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Naples,  the  Italian  Society  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  the  Medical  Societies  of  Lexington  and  Cincinnati,  &c.  &c 


The  art  of  seeing  -well,  or  of  noticing  and  distinguishing  with  accuracy 
the  objects  xuhich  -we  perceive,  is  a high  faculty  of  the  mind,  unfolded  in  feio 
individuals,  and  despised  by  those  -who  can  neither  acquire  it,  nor  appreciate 
its  results. 


LEXINGTON,  KENTUCKY. 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR  BY  W.  O.  HUNT.  (PBICE  ONE  DOLLAR.) 


1820, 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXT 


41 


These  Pages 

and  the  Discoveries  which  they  contain 
in  one  of  the  principal  Branches 
of  Natural  History, 
are  respectfully  Inscribed 
by  the  Author; 

To  his  fellow-labourers  in  the  same  field  of  Science : 
Prof.  Samuel  L.  Mitchill,  M.D. 
who  has  described  the  Atlantic  Fishes  of  New  York, 

and  to 

C.  A.  Le  Sueur, 

who  was  the  first  to  explore  the  Ichthyology  of  the 
Great  American  Lakes,  etc. 

In  Token 

of  Friendship,  Respect,  and  Congratulation. 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXT 


43 


[I.  305]  [5]  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FISHES 

OF  THE  OHIO  RIVER  AND  ITS  TRIBUTARY 
STREAMS,  BY  C.  S.  RAFINESQUE,  PRO- 
FESSOR OF  BOTANY  AND  NATU- 
RAL HISTORY  IN  TRANSYL- 
VANIA UNIVERSITY 

Introduction 

Nobody  had  ever  paid  any  correct  attention  to  the 
fishes  of  this  beautiful  river,  nor  indeed  of  the  whole 
immense  basin,  which  empties  its  water  into  the 
Mississippi,  and  hardly  twelve  species  of  them  had 
ever  been  properly  named  and  described,  when  in 
1818  and  1819,  I undertook  the  labour  of  collecting, 
observing,  describing,  and  delineating  those  of  the 
Ohio.  I succeeded  the  first  year  in  ascertaining 
nearly  eighty  species  among  them,  and  this  year  I 
added  about  twenty  more,  making  altogether  about 
one  hundred  species  of  fish,  whereof  nine  tenths  are 
new  and  undescribed. 

Many  of  them  have  compelled  me  to  establish  new 
genera,  since  they  could  not  properly  be  united  with 
any  former  genus;  and  I could  have  increased  their 
number,  had  I been  inclined,  as  will  be  seen  in  the 
course  of  this  ichthyology ; but  I have  in  many  in- 
stances proposed  sub-genera  and  sections  instead  of 
new  genera.  I sent  last  spring  to  Mr.  Blainville  of 
Paris,  a short  account  of  some  of  them,  to  be  pub- 
lished in  his  Journal  of  Natural  History,  in  a Tract 


44 


ICHTHYOL  OGIA  0HIENS1S 


named  Prodr omus  of  seventy  new  genera  of  Animals  and 
fifty  new  genera  of  Plants  from  North  America,  and  I 
now  propose  to  publish  a complete  account  of  all  the 
species  I have  discovered.  I am  confident  that  they 
do  not  include  the  whole  number  existing  in  the 
Ohio,  much  less  in  the  Mississippi ; but  as  they  will 
offer  a great  [I.  306]  [6]  proportion  of  them,  and,  as 
the  additional  species  may  be  gradually  described  in 
supplements,  I venture  to  introduce  them  to  the 
acquaintance  of  the  American  and  European  natural- 
ists; being  confident  that  they  will  not  be  deemed 
an  inconsiderable  addition  to  our  actual  knowledge 
of  the  finny  tribes.  To  the  inhabitants  of  the  west- 
ern states,  to  those  who  feed  daily  upon  them,  their 
correct  and  scientific  account  ought  to  be  peculiarly 
agreeable.  I trust  they  will  value  the  exertions 
through  which  I have  been  able  to  accomplish  so 
much  in  so  short  a period  of  time,  and  I wish  I could 
induce  them  to  lend  me  their  aid,  in  the  succession 
of  my  studies  of  those  animals,  by  communicating 
new  facts,  details,  and  rare  species.  I may  assure 
them  that  their  kind  help  shall  be  gratefully  received 
and  acknowledged. 

The  science  of  Ichthyology  has  lately  received 
great  additions  in  the  United  States.  A few  of  the 
atlantic  fishes  had  been  formerly  enumerated  by 
Catesby,  Kalm,  Forster,  Garden,  Linnaeus  Schoepf, 
Castiglione,  Bloch,  Bose,  and  Lacepede ; but  Dr. 
Samuel  L.  Mitchell  has  increased  our  knowledge, 
with  about  one  hundred  new  species  at  once,  in  his 
two  memoirs  on  the  Fishes  of  New-York,  the  first 
published  in  1814,  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Liter- 
ary and  Philosophical  Society  of  New-York,  and  the 
second  in  the  American  Monthly  Magazine  in  1817. 


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45 


Mr.  Lesueur  was  the  first  naturalist  who  visited  Lake 
Erie  and  Lake  Ontario,  where  he  detected  a great 
number  of  new  species,  which  he  has  already  begun 
to  publish  in  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences 
of  Philadelphia,  and  which  he  means  to  introduce  in 
his  General  History  of  American  Fishes,  a work  on 
the  plan  of  Wilson’s  Ornithology,  which  he  has  long 
had  in  contemplation.  And  I have  added  thereto 
about  forty  new  species,  which  I discovered  in  Lake 
Champlain,  Lake  George,  the  Chesapeake,  the  Hud- 
son, near  New-York,  Philadelphia,  the  Atlantic,  &c. 
and  published  in  my  Precis  des  Decouvertes,  my  Mem- 
oirs on  Sturgeons,  my  decads  and  tracts  in  the 
American  Monthly  Magazine,  the  American  Journal 
of  Science,  &c.  besides  three  new  fishes  of  the  Ohio, 
published  in  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Many  other  fishes  of  the  United  States  have  been 
partially  [I.  307]  [7]  described  by  Bartram,  Carver, 
Lewis  and  Clarke  and  other  travellers.  It  is  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  several  others  have  escaped  their 
notice,  and  my  discoveries  in  the  Ohio  prove  this 
assertion.  I calculate  that  we  know  at  present  about 
five  hundred  species  of  North  American  fishes,  while 
ten  years  ago  we  hardly  knew  one  hundred  and 
twenty.  Among  that  number  about  one  half  are  fresh 
water  fishes,  and  one  fourth  at  least  belong  to  the 
waters  of  the  western  states ; but,  although  there  are 
fifty  other  species  imperfectly  known,  I should  not 
wander  far  from  reality  if  I should  conjecture  that, 
after  all,  we  merely  know  one  third  of  the  real  num- 
bers, when  we  consider  that  the  whole  of  the  Mexi- 
can Provinces  is  a blank  in  Ichthyology,  as  well  as 
California,  the  North  West  Coast,  the  Northern 


46 


ICHTH YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Lakes,  and  all  tlie  immense  bason  of  the  Missouri 
and  Mississippi,  except  the  eastern  branch  of  the 
Ohio : all  those  regions  having  never  been  explored 
by  any  real  naturalists.  From  those  who  are  actu- 
ally surveying  the  river  Missouri  much  may  be 
expected ; but  I venture  to  foretell  that  many  of  the 
fishes  of  the  Ohio  will  be  found  common  to  the  great- 
est part  of  the  streams  communicating  with  it,  and 
therefore  throughout  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri, 
whence  the  ichthyology  of  the  Ohio,  will  be  a pretty 
accurate  specimen  of  the  swimming  tribes  of  all  the 
western  waters;  while  in  Mexico,  the  North  West 
Coast,  and  in  the  basin  of  the  St.  Lawrence  or  even 
in  the  Floridian  waters,  a total  difference  of  inhab- 
itants may  be  detected : since  I have  already  ascer- 
tained that  out  of  one  hundred  species  of  Ohio  fishes, 
there  are  hardly  two  similar  to  those  of  the  atlantic 
streams. 

I have  in  contemplation  to  visit  many  other  west- 
ern streams  and  lakes,  where  I have  no  doubt  to  reap 
many  plentiful  harvests  of  other  new  animals;  mean- 
time communications  on  the  fishes  of  every  western 
stream  are  solicited  from  those,  who  may  be  able  and 
willing  to  furnish  them. 

It  is  probable  that  some  of  the  fishes  of  the  Missis- 
sippi are  anadromic  or  come  annually  from  the  gulf 
of  Mexico  to  spawn  in  that  stream  and  its  lower 
branches;  but  all  the  fishes  of  the  Ohio  remain  per- 
manently in  it,  or  at  utmost  travel  down  the  Missis- 
sippi during  the  winter,  although  the  greatest 
proportion  dwell  during  that  season  in  the  deep 
spots  of  the  Ohio  [I.  308]  [<£]  This  is  proved  by 
their  early  appearance  at  the  same  time  in  all  the 
parts  of  the  river  and  even  as  high  as  Pittsburgh. 


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47 


This  happens  even  with  the  Sturgeons  and  Herrings 
of  the  Ohio,  which  are  in  other  countries  periodical 
fishes,  travelling  annually  from  the  sea  to  the  rivers 
in  the  spring,  and  from  the  rivers  to  the  sea  in  the 
fall. 

Fishes  are  very  abundant  in  the  Ohio,  and  are 
taken  sometimes  by  thousands  with  the  seines : some 
of  them  are  salted ; but  not  so  many  as  in  the  great 
lakes.  In  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  &c.  fish 
always  meets  a good  market,  and  sells  often  higher 
than  meat ; but  at  a distance  from  those  towns  you 
may  buy  the  best  fish  at  the  rate  of  one  or  two  cents 
the  pound.  It  affords  excellent  food,  and,  if  not 
equal  to  the  best  sea  fish,  it  comes  very  near  it, 
being  much  above  the  common  river  fish  of  Europe : 
the  most  delicate  fishes  are  the  Salmon-perch,  the 
Bubbler,  the  Buffaloe-fish,  the  Sturgeons,  the  Cat- 
fishes,  &c.  It  is  not  unusual  to  meet  such  fishes  of 
the  weight  of  thirty  to  one  hundred  pounds,  and 
some  monstrous  ones  are  occasionally  caught,  of 
double  that  weight.  The  most  usual  manners  of 
catching  fish  in  the  Ohio  are,  with  seines  or  harpoons 
at  night  and  in  shallow  water,  with  boats  carrying  a 
light,  or  with  the  hooks  and  lines,  and  even  with 
baskets. 

I am  sorry  to  be  compelled  to  delay  the  publication 
of  my  figures  of  all  the  fishes  now  described : these 
delineations  shall  appear  at  another  period. 

To  facilitate  the  knowledge  of  the  streams  men- 
tioned, I prefix  a physical  description  of  the  Ohio 
and  its  principal  branches. 

Lexington , Kentucky,  \^th  November,  1819. 


48 


ICHTH YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


River  Ohio 

Head.  It  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  rivers 
Alleghany  and  Monongahela,  in  Pennsylvania,  at 
Pittsburgh,  near  the  40 y2  degree  of  north  latitude. 
It  is  difficult  to  say  which  of  them  is  the  main  branch 
or  stream,  the  Alleghany  being  the  longest  and  in 
the  most  direct  course,  while  the  Monongahela  ap- 
pears to  be  the  largest  at  the  junction,  and  to  have 
similar  waters. 

[I.  301  i.e.,  309]  [9]  Direction.  Although  the 
Ohio  is  exceedingly  crooked  in  its  course,  its  general 
direction  is  south  west  and  west  south  west : it  as- 
sumes every  other  direction;  but  very  seldom  the 
opposite  one,  N.  E. 

Mouth.  It  empties  into  the  Mississippi,  near  the 
37th  degree  of  latitude,  dividing  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky from  that  of  Illinois,  which  lies  north. 

Connections.  The  Ohio  is  one  of  the  principal 
branches  of  the  Mississippi,  and  properly  its  great 
eastern  branch.  The  two  great  western  branches,  the 
Arkansas,  which  is  about  1800  English  miles  long, 
and  the  Red  River,  which  measures  about  1600  miles, 
exceed  it  in  length,  but  not  in  size,  nor  in  the  num- 
ber of  tributary  ^streams ; nor  in  the  extent  of  their 
basins.  The  northern  branch  or  upper  Mississippi 
is  much  inferior  to  it  in  all  respects  (it  is  only  775 
miles  long,  and  receives  only  seven  large  rivers,) 

Jr 

although  it  has  been  mistaken  for  the  main  branch. 
The  real  main  branch  is  the  Missouri,  which  takes 


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49 


the  name  of  Mississippi  after  its  junction  with  the 
upper  Mississippi.  It  flows  2700  English  miles  above 
that  junction,  receiving  thirty-three  rivers  above  100 
miles  long,  and  1 300  miles  below,  receiving  twelve 
such  rivers,  having  a total  course  of  4000  miles  and 
forty  five  large  branches.  It  is  yet  undecided  whether 
the  Yellow  Stone  or  the  Western  Missouri  is  the 
principal  upper  branch. 

Length.  From  Pittsburgh  to  the  mouth,  it  is  500 
geographic  miles  in  a direct  course  (60  to  a degree) 
and  960  in  the  regular  course,  equal  to  1120  English 
miles,  (of  69^  to  a degree ;)  but  if  the  Monongahela 
be  deemed  the  main  upper  branch,  the  whole  course 
will  be  1360  English  miles,  while  if  the  Allegany 
be  considered  as  such,  the  whole  length  of  the  Ohio 
will  be  found  equal  to  1405  such  miles. 

Adjacencies.  It  flows  through  Pennsylvania  as 
far  as  Mill  creek  below  Georgetown ; it  divides  after- 
wards the  state  of  Ohio,  which  lie[s]  on  the  right  bank 
from  Virginia;  this  state  extends  on  the  left  bank 
as  far  as  Sandy  river,  where  Kentucky  begins,  and 
it  occupies  the  remainder  of  the  left  bank,  as  far  as 
the  Mississippi.  While  the  state  of  Ohio  terminates 
on  the  north  side  at  the  Miami  river:  the  state  of 
Indiana  follows  as  far  as  [I.  310]  [/o]  the  Wabash 
river,  and  from  thence  the  state  of  Illinois  extends  to 
the  mouth. 

Parts.  The  Ohio  is  naturally  divided  into  three 
parts,  containing  each  two  sections,  the  head  branches 
Alleghany  and  Monongahela  form  the  two  sections 
of  the  first  part.  The  second  or  upper  part  lies 
between  their  junctions  and  the  falls,  being  divided 
into  two  sections  by  Letart’s  rapids;  while  the  third 
or  lower  part  includes  the  space  below  the  falls,  the 


50 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


first  section  of  which  terminates  at  the  end  of  the 
narrow  valley  above  Troy  in  Indiana,  and  the  second 
which  includes  the  broad  and  fiat  valleys  reaches  to 
the  mouth.  The  upper  part  of  the  river  is  the  long- 
est, being  about  seven  hundred  miles  long. 

Breadth.  At  Pittsburgh  the  Ohio  is  about  one 
quarter  of  a mile  wide,  above  the  falls  and  near  the 
mouth  it  is  over  one  mile : its  average  breadth  may 
be  reckoned  at  half  a mile  or  rather  two  thousand 
five  hundred  feet. 

Depth.  Very  variable  according  to  places  and 
times.  The  mean  depth  at  low  water  may  be  reck- 
oned at  three  feet,  and  at  high  water  at  about  thirty 
feet.  Average  medium  fifteen  feet. 

Velocity.  The  current  of  the  Ohio  is  generally 
gentle,  except  at  the  falls  and  ripples.  Its  average 
at  low  water  may  be  stated  at  two  miles  an  hour  and 
at  high  water  at  four  miles  an  hour. 

Bulk.  The  quantity  of  waters  flowing  in  the  Ohio 
may  be  therefore  calculated,  upon  a general  medium 
of  the  above  breadth,  depth,  and  velocity,  at  about 
forty  millions  of  cubic  feet,  during  an  hour  at  low 
water,  and  at  more  than  eight  hundred  millions  of 
such  feet  at  high  water.  Average  medium  three 
hundred  and  eighty  millions  in  an  hour,  nine  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  twenty  millions  in  a day,  and 
more  than  three  millions  of  millions  of  feet  in  one 
year. 

Waters.  They  are  slightly  turbid,  and  become 
much  more  so  in  the  rises.  At  a low  stage  they  are 
almost  clear,  and  at  all  times  very  salubrious.  The 
Monongahela  has  the  same  character,  while  the  Alle- 
ghany is  almost  perfectly  clear.  The  turbidity  of 
the  waters  is  produced  by  very  fine  particles  of  earthy 


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51 


matter  dissolved  in  it,  and  which  are  not  easily- 
deposited,  unless  at  high  water,  when  mud  and 
earth  become  mixed  with  them. 

[I.  31 1]  [//]  Valley.  The  Ohio  flows  in  a narrow 
valley  as  far  as  Utica,  above  Louisville.  This  valley 
averages  about  one  mile  in  breadth,  and  about  three 
hundred  feet  in  depth,  but  in  some  parts  it  is  nearly 
five  hundred  feet  deep.  There  are  evident  proofs 
that  the  river  has  formerly  filled  it.  The  sides  are 
formed  by  steep  cliffs  and  hills  of  sandstone  as  far 
as  Vanceburg  and  the  knobs  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Scioto;  beyond  which  all  the  strata  are  of  limestone. 
Beyond  those  cliffs  the  country  is  broken,  but  much 
raised  above  the  bottom  of  the  Ohio  Valley.  The 
river  meanders  through  it,  leaving  on  each  side,  or 
only  on  one  side,  a level  tract  of  alluvial  and  deep 
soil,  which  are  called  bottoms  and  were  once  the  bed 
of  the  river.  The  cliffs  correspond  together,  keep- 
ing at  an  equal  distance,  and  every  salient  angle  or 
elbow  has  an  opposite  bend.  Below  Utica  and  as 
far  as  Otter  creek  below  Salt  river  begins  the  site  of 
an  ancient  Lake,  forming  now  a plain,  which  is  about 
twenty-five  miles  long  and  ten  miles  broad ; the  falls 
are  situated  in  the  middle  of  it : the  silver  hills  bound 
it  to  the  west,  the  knobby  hills  to  the  east  and  the 
barren  hills  to  the  south.  Immediately  below  it  are 
the  narrows  of  Otter  creek,  where  the  valley  begins 
again;  but  is  not  larger  than  at  Pittsburgh,  being 
hardly  half  a mile  wide  and  the  river  is  less  than  one 
thousand  feet  across.  They  both  expand  gradually 
until  they  reach  the  rocky  narrows  above  Troy,  where 
the  valley,  after  being  contracted  to  three  fourths  of 
a mile,  while  the  river  is  nearly  half  a mile  broad, 
expands  at  once  into  a low  country  or  broad  valley, 


52 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  O HIE NS IS 


(the  river  being  often  one  mile  wide)  which  was  for- 
merly a second  lake,  extending  about  one  hundred 
miles  to  Cave-hill  narrows,  with  a variable  breadth 
of  four  to  twenty  miles ; only  a few  bluffs  appearing 
occasionally  on  the  banks,  and  the  boundary  hills 
being  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high  on  an 
average.  At  Cave-hill  or  Cave  in  the  rock,  the  river, 
from  a mile  broad,  becomes  at  once  very  narrow, 
and  the  hills  come  very  near  the  banks  on  both  sides, 
forming  a short  narrows,  below  which  stands  another 
plain,  which  was  once  a third  Lake,  about  twelve 
miles  long  and  six  miles  wide : it  ends  at  Grand 
Pierre  creek,  and  the  broad  narrows  between  the 
north  and  south  bluffs.  Here  begins  the  lowest 
part  of  the  Ohio  Valley,  which  grows  wide  gradually 
[I.  312]  [12]  and  extends  as  far  as  the  Mississippi, 
being  from  six  to  twenty  miles  wide  and  bounded  by 
hills  one  hundred  feet  high  on  an  average,  and  with 
very  few  stones. 

Basin.  The  basin  of  a river,  must  not  be  mis- 
taken for  its  valley,  since  it  includes  the  whole 
regions  watered  by  the  streams  flowing  into  it.  The 
basin  of  Ohio  is  very  extensive,  including  the  greater 
share  of  the  states  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Ohio, 
and  Indiana,  with  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  New- York, 
Virginia,  Alabama  and  Illinois,  and  a small  corner 
of  North  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Mississippi,  watering 
therefore  twelve  states  of  the  Union.  It  occupies 
eight  degrees  of  latitude  from  the  thirty-fourth  to  the 
forty-second  degrees,  and  about  twenty-six  degrees 
of  longitude.  Its  whole  surface  includes  at  least 
half  a million  of  square  miles,  and  three  hundred 
and  twenty  millions  of  square  acres. 

Islands.  The  Ohio  has  a great  many,  about  one 


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53 


hundred  and  thirty;  they  are  commonly  long  and 
narrow.  Some  sand-bars,  lying  in  the  middle  of  the 
river,  are  gradually  becoming  islands ; most  of  them 
are  overflowed  at  the  high  waters.  There  are  very 
few  ancient  islands,  forming  now  insulated  hills ; I 
have  detected  however  half  a dozen,  the  first  of 
which  lies  just  below  Pittsburgh  on  the  right  bank. 

Bars.  They  are  very  common,  are  generally  sand 
bars,  and  lie  on  one  side  or  round  the  islands,  very 
few  stretch  across  the  river : they  produce  ripples  or 
a broken  current.  Some  of  them  have  hardly  six 
inches  of  water,  at  the  low  stage  of  the  river. 

Channels.  The  current  of  the  Ohio  is  digging 
another  bed,  deeper  than  the  actual  one,  which  forms 
the  real  channel  of  navigation.  It  does  not  experi- 
ence many  changes ; sometimes  it  happens  to  be 
very  crooked,  particularly  near  islands  and  bars.  It 
generally  follows  and  grazes  the  highest  cliffs  or 
banks,  and  sometimes  becomes  double  round  some 
islands. 

Banks.  The  actual  banks  are  all  alluvial  and  of 
a deep  and  rich  soil,  seldom  quite  sandy  or  muddy. 
There  are  in  many  bottoms  a second  and  even  a third 
bank,  all  very  steep  and  from  ten  to  forty  feet  high. 
The  first  bank  is  almost  every  where  overflowed  at 
high  waters,  the  second  never.  The  platforms  be- 
hind the  banks  are  sometimes  lower  than  the  edge 
of  the  [I.  313]  [/j]  bank.  Many  banks  sink  or  are 
washed  away  in  inundations,  when  the  channel  sets 
against  them. 

Rapids.  Many  ripples  become  rapids  at  low  water, 
and  all  the  rapids  disappear  at  high  water,  even 
those  called  the  falls,  which  lay  below  Louisville. 
They  are  several  passages  of  the  river  between  rocky 


54 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


islands,  the  waters  flowing  with  great  rapidity ; but 
hardly  ever  pitching  over,  except  on  the  Kentucky 
side  of  the  falls,  where  at  very  low  water,  there  is  a 
small  fall  of  less  than  two  feet.  Their  noise  is  heard 
at  a great  distance.  A Canal  will  soon  be  cut  on  each 
side  of  them.  Letart’s  rapids  and  the  Hurricane 
rapids  are  the  most  dangerous  after  the  falls,  yet 
they  are  merely  large  rock  ripples. 

[I.  361]  Bayous.  They  are  narrow  channels  into 
which  the  waters  flow  at  a certain  stage  of  rise,  form- 
ing temporary  islands;  they  are  not  uncommon  in 
the  lower  vallies,  and  are  sometimes  called  cut  offs; 
the  longest  lies  below  Evansville,  forming  occasion- 
ally a very  large  island  opposite  Hendersonville. 

Inundations.  The  Ohio  is  subject  to  periodical 
rises  and  to  many  adventitious  ones.  The  highest 
happens  in  the  spring,  when  the  snow  melts  in  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  and  it  has  sometimes  risen  to 
fifty  feet  above  the  low  water  at  some  particular 
places,  covering  all  the  islands  and  bottoms  of  the 
first  banks,  and  overflowing  the  towns  built  on  those 
bottoms,  such  as  Marietta,  Shippingport,  Lawrence- 
burgh,  Shawneetown,  &c.  to  the  depth  of  ten  feet  or 
more.  Another  happens  in  the  fall  after  the  first 
rains;  both  subside  pretty  soon.  Many  others  occur 
throughout  the  year,  occasioned  by  rains.  They  are 
either  general  or  partial,  sudden  or  gradual ; but  dur- 
ing the  months  of  July,  August,  and  September  the 
waters  are  very  low,  while  in  January  and  February, 
they  are  covered  with  floating  ice  and  even  frozen 
over  in  the  northern  and  upper  part.  The  overflow- 
ings do  not  rise  so  high  in  the  lower  valleys ; but 
they  expand  more  over  the  bottoms,  often  leaving 
behind  pools  and  marshes. 


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Phenomena.  Eddies  and  whirlpools  are  common, 
particularly  at  high  waters;  but  not  dangerous.  A 
natural  echo  is  heard  throughout  the  narrow  valley. 
Fogs  are  common  dur-  [I.  362]  [/y]  ing  the  winter  and 
spring  in  the  valley,  they  pollect  in  the  morning  and 
last  until  the  sun  dissipates  them : they  preserve  the 
valley  from  the  chilling  frosts,  and  render  its  climate 
milder  than  that  of  the  adjacent  country.  The 
prevailing  winds  are  westerly,  and  four  times  out 
of  five  a breeze  blows  up  the  stream,  following  the 
meanders  of  the  valley : it  is  a deviated  branch  of  the 
Mexican  trade  wind.  Thunder  storms  are  frequent 
in  summer,  and  hurricanes  have  sometimes  happened. 
Waves  then  rise  high  against  the  current  and  are 
dangerous.  Intermittent  fevers  are  not  uncommon  in 
the  fall  near  some  low  banks  and  in  the  low  bottoms ; 
but  the  climate  is  otherwise  very  healthy.  Many 
springs  are  found  along  the  banks  and  cliffs  and 
many  more  appear  at  low  water. 

Scenery.  All  the  banks,  and  cliffs,  and  nearly  all 
the  islands  are  covered  with  trees,  among  which  the 
Platanus  occidentalis  (Sycamore,)  the  Populus  angulata, 
(Cotton  tree,)  and  the  Salix  nigra  (Willow)  are  the 
most  common  and  conspicuous.  The  cliffs  and  islands 
offer  every  where  very  fine  views  and  prospects,  and 
the  cultivation  increases  those  natural  beauties ; this 
is  very  conspicuous  near  Cincinnati,  Maysville,  Pitts- 
burgh, &c. 

Navigation.  The  River  is  navigated  by  Steam 
boats,  Barges,  Keel  boats,  Schooner  barges,  Rowing 
boats,  Flat  boats  or  Arks,  Skiffs,  Pirogues,  Rafts, 
&c.  of  which  many  thousand  annually  descend  the 
stream.  Those  which  ascend  it  again  amount  annu- 
ally to  many  hundred,  among  which  there  are  already 


56 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  GHIENSIS 


more  than  sixty  Steam  boats,  averaging  the  burthen 
of  150  tons  each.  The  ascent  is  effected,  besides 
steam,  by  sailing,  poling,  warping,  and  rowing,  and 
is  very  tedious.  The  difficulties  of  the  navigation 
consist  in  bars,  sunken  rocks,  rocky  ledges,  snags 
or  sunken  logs,  sawyers  or  moving  snags,  drifted 
logs,  planters  or  upright  trees,  falling  trees,  sinking 
banks,  sudden  storms,  rises  and  falls,  drifting  ice, 
rejecting  currents,  whirlpools,  shallow  water,  ripples 
and  rapids,  &c. : but  they  are  not  dangerous  except 
at  some  particular  stages  of  the  waters.  In  the 
spring  rise  the  water  is  so  deep  that  it  may  easily 
float  vessels  of  500  tons,  even  over  the  falls.  Many 
large  ships  were  built  at  Pittsburgh  and  Marietta, 
which  safely  reached  the  sea;  [I.  363]  [75]  but  since 
the  introduction  of  Steam  boats,  Ships  have  been 
disused. 

Towns.  There  are  already  more  than  125  towns 
and  villages  built  on  the  Ohio.  The  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh, at  the  head  of  it,  contains  nearly  15000  inhab- 
itants. Cincinnati,  in  Ohio,  contains  above  10,000. 
The  other  principal  towns  are : Louisville,  in  Ken- 
tucky, at  the  falls,  about  5000:  Steubenville,  in  Ohio 
about  3000:  Maysville  or  Limestone,  in  Kentucky, 
about  2000:  besides,  Beavertown,  in  Pennsylvania: 
Wheeling,  in  Virginia:  Marietta,  in  Ohio,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Muskingum : Gallipolis  in  Ohio : Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto:  Augusta, 
in  Kentucky:  Newport,  K.  at  the  mouth  of  Licking 
River:  Owensborough,  K.  Hendersonville,  K.  Vevay, 
in  Indiana:  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.  at  the  mouth  of  the 
great  Miami:  Madison,  Indiana:  Jeffersonville  and 
New- Albany,  Indiana,  both  at  the  falls:  Evansville, 
Indiana:  Shawneetown,  in  Illinois,  &c. 


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57 


Branches.  The  Ohio  receives  immediately  about 
400  streams,  of  which  20  are  rivers  above  100  miles 
long,  54  are  small  rivers  or  large  creeks,  and  more 
than  300  are  brooks  and  runs.  Its  largest  branches 
empty  into  the  lower  parts  of  the  River,  such  as  the 
Tennessee,  Cumberland,  and  Wabash.  They  all 
flow  in  valleys  similar  to  that  of  the  Ohio  and  pro- 
portioned to  their  size.  Many  of  them,  such  as  the 
Scioto,  Miami,  Tennessee,  Wabash,  &c.  have  plains, 
which  indicate  former  lakes.  Most  of  them  have 
rapids,  ripples,  bars,  islands,  &c.  and  offer  the  same 
phenomena  as  the  Ohio,  particularly  the  periodical 
rises  and  falls.  I shall  give  some  account  of  the  20 
principal  streams,  which  fall  into  the  Ohio,  in  the 
order  in  which  they  join  it. 

PRINCIPAL  BRANCHES  OF  THE  OHIO. 

1.  Alleghany.  It  rises  in  Lycoming  county, 
Pennsylvania,  near  the  42b  degree  of  latitude,  on  the 
northern  parts  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and,  after 
flowing  through  a small  part  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  it  returns  into  Pennsylvania,  until  it  joins  the 
Monongahela  at  Pittsburgh  and  forms  the  Ohio.  Gen- 
eral direction  S.  W.  Length  in  a direct  course  170 
geographic  miles,  in  the  natural  course  250,  equal  to 
285  English  miles.  It  has  five  great  branches,  the 
Conemaugh,  Conewa-  [I.  364]  [/d]  go,  Tobas,  &c.  It 
is  navigable  throughout,  and  its  stream  is  gentle  and 
clear. 

2.  Monongahela.  Rises  in  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains of  Virginia,  near  latitude  38.  Direct  course 
N.  and  150  miles,  in  the  natural  course  210  miles,  or 
245  English  miles.  It  has  three  great  branches,  of 
which  the  Yohogheny  is  the  principal.  Its  breadth 


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ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


at  Pittsburgh  is  1350  feet,  being  wider  and  deeper 
than  the  Alleghany.  It  flows  in  a deep  valley,  is 
subject  to  sudden  rises,  and  has  a turbid  but  navi- 
gable stream. 

3.  Mahoning  or  Big  Beaver.  Rises  near  Lake 
Erie,  in  latitude  42,  and  runs  south  through  Pennsyl- 
vania, emptying  on  the  right  side  of  the  Ohio,  of 
which  it  is  one  of  the  smallest  branches,  and  is 
even  sometimes  called  a Creek,  although  its  direct 
course  is  80  miles  long,  and  the  natural  nearly  140, 
or  about  163  English  miles,  being  very  crooked; 
but  it  is  shallow,  full  of  falls,  and  hardly  navigable. 
It  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Shenango  and 
Neshanock. 

4.  Muskingum.  It  flows  through  the  state  of 
Ohio,  in  a southerly  direction,  about  100  miles,  but 
being  very  winding  its  natural  course  is  150  miles  or 
about  175  English  miles.  It  rises  in  a small  lake  of 
the  Ohio  ridge,  which  separates  the  bason  of  the 
Ohio  from  that  of  Lake  Erie,  near  the  41st  degree  of 
latitude,  and  it  joins  the  Ohio  at  Marietta.  It  is  a 
large  and  navigable  river,  although  it  has  a large 
rapid  or  fall  at  Zanesville  and  some  other  smaller 
rapids  elsewhere.  At  the  mouth  it  is  750  feet  wide. 
It  flows  through  a large  valley,  and  receives  four  or 
five  large  branches,  called  Wills,  Licking,  Mohecan, 
&c. 

5.  Little  Kenhaway.  It  rises  in  the  Laurel 
hills,  and  flows  through  Virginia  in  a N.  W.  course 
of  90  miles,  or  140  in  a natural  course,  equal  to  about 
163  English  miles.  It  empties  at  Parkenburg,  is 
partly  navigable  and  has  several  small  branches. 

6.  Hockhocking.  Flows  through  Ohio.  Direc- 
tion, S.  E.  length  seventy  five  miles,  by  the  real  course 


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one  hundred  and  twenty  five,  or  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  English  miles.  It  is  a deep  but  narrow 
stream,  navigable  however  as  far  as  the  two  cascades. 
It  had  lakes  formerly. 

7.  Great  Kenhaway.  Rises  in  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  [I.  365]  [77]  near  latitude  36,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  flows  through  Virginia.  Course  north- 
erly, one  hundred  and  seventy  five  miles,  real  course 
very  crooked,  about  two  hundred  and  seventy  miles 
or  three  hundred  and  fifteen  English  miles.  It  joins 
the  Ohio  at  Point  Pleasant.  It  is  a fine,  navigable 
and  broad  river,  with  many  branches. 

8.  Big  Guyandot.  It  rises  in  the  Cumberland 
Mountains,  and  runs  N.  through  Virginia,  emptying 
itself  at  Guyandot.  It  is  navigable  sixty  miles; 
length  seventy  miles,  real  course  one  hundred  miles, 
or  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  English  miles. 

9.  Sandy  River.  Rises  also  in  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  near  the  37th  degree  of  latitude,  and  sepa- 
rates Virginia  from  Kentucky.  It  is  a large  but  shal- 
low river,  with  three  branches.  Common  course 
north,  ninety  miles  in  length,  natural  course  one 
hundred  and  twenty  five  miles,  or  one  hundred  and 
forty  six  English  miles.  It  is  also  called  Tottery 
river  and  Big  Sandy. 

10.  Scioto.  It  flows  through  the  state  of  Ohio, 
rising  in  a morass  of  the  Ohio  ridge  or  table  land, 
near  latitude  40  1-2.  It  empties  near  Portsmouth 
after  a southerly  course  of  one  hundred  and  ten  miles, 
real  course  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  miles  or 
two  hundred  and  twelve  English  miles.  It  is  navi- 
gable one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  and  is  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  broad  at  the  mouth.  It  has  many 
bars  and  snags,  but  no  falls.  Its  four  principal 


60 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


branches  are  Whetstone  river,  Paint,  Darby,  and 
Walnut  creeks.  It  had  lakes  formerly. 

11.  Little  Miami.  Runs  through  Ohio  in  a S. 
S.  W.  direction  of  sixty  miles,  natural  course  one 
hundred  miles  or  one  hundred  and  fifteen  English 
miles.  It  is  not  navigable.  It  joins  the  Ohio  near 
Columbia  and  has  several  small  branches.  Near  its 
head,  it  runs  for  a mile  through  a narrow  chasm, 
with  successive  falls  of  two  hundred  feet. 

12.  Licking  River.  It  flows  through  Kentucky 
in  a N.  W.  course  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles, 
rising  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  near  latitude 
37.  It  has  two  great  branches,  is  hardly  navigable, 
and  winds  very  much.  It  empties  between  Newport 
and  Covington,  opposite  Cincinnati.  Real  course 
about  three  hundred  miles  or  nearly  three  hundred 
and  fifty  English  miles. 

[I.  366]  [/#]  13.  Great  Miami.  It  rises  in  the 
Ohio  ridge,  near  latitude  40  1-2  and  flows  through 
Ohio  in  a S.  S W.  direction,  dividing  that  state  from 
Indiana  at  its  mouth,  near  Lawrenceburgh.  Com- 
mon course  one  hundred  and  ten  miles,  real  course 
one  hundred  and  eighty,  or  about  two  hundred  and 
ten  English  miles.  Its  current  is  very  rapid,  and 
difficult  to  ascend.  It  has  four  principal  branches, 
such  as  Mad  river,  Whitewater,  &c.  The  mouth  is 
six  hundred  feet  wide,  and  its  valley  is  very  large. 
It  was  for[m]erly  called  Rocky  river. 

14.  Kentucky.  This  fine  river  gives  its  name 
to  the  state  throughout  which  it  flows,  in  a N W. 
direction.  It  rises  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
near  the  37th  degree  of  latitude,  a high  spot  from 
which  the  Tennessee,  Cumberland,  Licking,  & c.  flow 
westward.  Common  course  180  miles,  real  course 


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340  and  very  winding,  or  about  400  english  miles. 
It  has  5 principal  branches,  Dick  river,  Black  river, 
&c.  It  overflows  in  the  spring  and  is  then  navigable 
even  for  Steam-Boats,  &c.  It  has  many  rapids,  but 
no  real  fall.  Its  valley  is  deep  and  often  narrow;  in 
the  narrows,  the  limestone  cliffs  are  300  feet  high, 
and  very  near  each  other,  without  any  bottoms.  It 
had  formerly  a few  small  lakes  and  hilly  islands.  It 
empties  at  Port  William.  Former  name  Cuttawa. 

15.  Salt  River.  Flows  in  Kentucky,  rises  in 
the  knobby  hills,  course  N.  W.  80  miles  long,  nat- 
ural course  winding  about  140  miles,  or  160  english 
miles.  It  is  partly  navigable  and  has  many  branches. 
It  empties  at  Adamsville. 

16.  Green  River.  It  rises  in  Kentucky,  in  the 
knobby  hills,  which  are  spurs  of  the  Cumberland 
Mountains,  and  flows  West  and  N.  W.  into  that  state. 
Direct  course  175  miles,  usual  course  about  350  or 
more  than  400  english  miles.  It  has  four  large 
branches,  such  as  Barren  river,  Rough  and  Panther 
creeks,  &c.  It  has  a gentle  current  and  is  navigable. 
Its  valley  is  very  wide  in  the  lower  part,  and  when 
it  joins  the  Ohio,  above  Evansville,  its  stream  is 
almost  as  large  as  the  Ohio.  It  was  formerly  called 
Buffaloe  river. 

17.  Wabash.  It  rises  in  Indiana,  on  the  ridge 
dividing  the  basons  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Lakes,  near 
latitude  41^,  and  below  it  forms  the  limits  between 
Indiana  and  Illinois.  Direction  S.  [I.  367]  [/p]  S. 
W.  Length  250  miles,  real  course  450  miles  or 
nearly  525  English  miles.  It  is  a large  and  deep 
stream,  navigable  even  in  summer,  as  far  as  the  falls. 
Its  lower  valley  is  wide  and  shallow,  with  many 
islands  and  bayous.  It  has  five  large  branches,  such 


62 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


as  Little  Wabash,  White  river,  &c.  This  last  is 
very  considerable  and  extends  its  numerous  and  large 
branches  throughout  Indiana ; the  longest  is  350  miles 
long,  one  of  them  runs  parallel  with  the  Ohio.  It 
empties  above  Shawneetown. 

18.  Saline  River.  It  flows  through  Illinois  in 
a S.  E.  direction,  emptying  below  Shawneetown. 
Length  55  miles,  real  course  about  90,  or  105  Eng- 
lish miles;  it  is  therefore  the  smallest  of  the  rivers 
emptying  into  the  Ohio,  although  Big  Blue  river, 
Tradewater  river,  Little  Muskingum,  and  Little  Sci- 
oto, are  still  smaller  and  rather  large  creeks;  their 
course  being  less  than  100  miles,  I have  not  noticed 
them.  The  Saline  river  is  partly  navigable  and  has 
three  principal  branches. 

19.  Cumberland.  It  rises  in  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  of  Kentucky,  and  after  watering  Tennes- 
see, returns  into  Kentucky,  its  course  being  W.  and 
N.  W.  about  300  miles;  real  course  about  500  miles  or 
about  585  English  miles.  It  is  a fine  navigable 
river,  flowing  in  a broad  valley,  and  with  many  small 
branches,  but  no  large  ones.  It  has  also  been  called 
the  Shawanee. 

20.  Tennessee.  The  last  and  largest  of  the 
branches  of  the  Ohio.  It  is  formed  by  the  union  of 
the  Holstein  and  Clinch  rivers  in  Tennessee,  the 
former  rising  in  Virginia  near  lat.  37,  and  the  second 
in  North  Carolina,  within  the  Alleghany  Mountains 
near  lat.  35.  The  whole  course,  if  the  Clinch  river 
is  deemed  the  main  branch,  will  be  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  and  the  real  course  six  hundred  and 
fifty,  equal  to  about  seven  hundred  and  sixty  english 
miles.  Duck  river  is  another  large  branch  of  it,  and 
there  are  three  others  besides.  The  direction  is  S. 


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W.  then  west  and  next  north,  watering  Tennessee, 
Alabama,  Kentucky,  &c.  and  emptying  into  the  Ohio 
a few  miles  below  the  Cumberland,  from  which  basin 
it  is  divided  by  a high  ridge,  and  not  far  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  The  Tennessee  is  a very  large 
and  fine  navigable  river,  almost  equal  to  the  Ohio  in 
size,  but  not  in  depth.  Its  valley  is  wide  and  has 
had  many  lakes,  one  of  them  was  at  the  Muscle 
Shoals,  which  forms  now  a [I.  368]  [20]  small  lake, 
full  of  rocky  islands  and  rapids,  and  are  a great 
impediment  to  navigation.  It  was  formerly  called 
the  Cherokee  river. 

SMALLER  BRANCHES. 

The  fifty  four  small  rivers  and  large  creeks,  flow- 
ing into  the  Ohio  are  the  following,  of  which  thirty 
three  empty  on  the  right  and  twenty  one  on  the  left. 
They  are  all  over  thirty  miles  long  in  their  natural 
course. 

In  Pennsylvania,  3.  Right  bank,  Little  Beaver; 
and  on  the  left  bank  Chartier’s  Creek,  Raccoon 
Creek. 

In  Ohio,  17.  Big  Yellow  creek,  Warren  creek, 
Indian  Wheeling  creek,  Captina  creek,  Sunfish  creek, 
Opossum  creek,  Little  Muskingum  river,  Duck  creek, 
Shade  river,  Kaygers  creek,  Campaign  creek,  Raccoon 
creek,  Symmes’  creek,  Brush  creek,  Little  Scioto 
river,  Eagle  creek,  White  Oak  creek. 

In  Virginia,  7.  Short  creek,  Wheeling  creek,  Big 
Grave  creek,  Fishing  creek,  Stony  creek,  Big  Sandy 
creek,  Little  Guyandot  river. 

In  Kentucky,  12.  Little  Sandy  river,  Tygert 
creek,  Kinniconick,  Gunpowder  creek,  Bigbone  creek, 
Harrod  creek,  Beargrass  creek,  Otter  creek,  Sinking 


64 


ICHTH  YOL  OGIA  OH/E  NS/S 


creek,  Blackford  creek,  Highland  creek,  Tradewater 
river. 

In  Indiana,  12.  Tanner’s  creek,  Houghan  creek, 
Loughery  creek,  Indian  Kentucky,  Silver  creek,  Buck 
creek,  Corydon  creek,  Big  Blue  river,  Little  Blue 
river,  Anderson  river,  Little  Pigeon  creek,  Big 
Pigeon  creek. 

In  Illinois,  3.  Lusk’s  creek,  Bigbury  creek,  Cash 
river. 


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Fishes  of  the  Ohio 


FIRST  PART.  THORACIC  FISHES. 

Having  complete  gills,  with  a gill  cover,  and  a 
branchial  membrane.  Lower  or  ventral  fins  situated 
on  the  breast  or  thorax,  under  the  pectoral  or  lateral 
fins. 


I Genus.  Perch.  Perca.  Perche. 

Body  elliptical,  scaly;  head  without  scales,  mouth 
large,  jaws  with  unequal  acute  teeth,  gill  cover  with 
a serrate  preopercule  [I.  369]  [21]  and  a spiny  oper- 
cule ; two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  with  spiny  rays,  the 
second  with  soft  rays.  Vent  posterior. 

This  genus  was  very  badly  defined  by  Linneus, 
Shaw,  Bloch,  and  Mitchell;  the  above  characters  are 
now  precise  and  apply  to  all  the  species  that  ought 
to  remain  in  it,  answering  to  the  genus  of  Lacepede 
and  the  subgenus  of  Cuvier,  bearing  the  same  name. 
All  the  species  belonging  to  it  are  voracious  and  prey 
on  smaller  fishes.  There  are  only  few  species  in  the 
Ohio,  which  afford  an  excellent  food. 

1st  Species.  Salmon  Perch.  Perca  Salmonea. 
Perche  Saumonee. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  one  spine  on  the  opercule  and 
another  at  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fins : body  length- 
ened, breadth  one  ninth  of  the  length,  brownish 
above,  with  gilt  shades,  white  beneath:  first  dorsal 
fin  with  fourteen  rays,  second  with  twenty,  tail 


66 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


forked,  all  the  fins  spotted ; lateral  line  diagonal  and 
slightly  curved. 

A fine  fish,  from  one  to  three  feet  long;  it  is  one 
of  the  best  afforded  by  the  Ohio,  its  flesh  is  esteemed 
a delicacy,  being  white,  tender,  and  well  flavoured, 
whence  the  name  of  Salmon  was  given  to  it,  and  its 
shape  which  is  nearly  cylindrical  and  slightly  com- 
pressed, with  the  head  and  jaws  somewhat  similar  to 
those  of  the  Salmons,  has  induced  many  to  consider 
it  a real  Salmon,  although  its  fins  and  gill  covers  are 
quite  different.  It  has  received  the  vulgar  names  of 
Salmon,  White  Salmon , and  Ohio  Salmon.  It  is  not  a 
.common  fish,  but  is  occasionally  caught  all  over  the 
Ohio  and  in  the  Kentucky,  Licking,  Wabash,  and 
Miami  rivers  during  the  spring  and  summer;  it  ap- 
pears at  Pittsburgh  sometimes  as  early  as  February, 
while  it  winters  in  deep  waters.  It  feeds  on  Chubs, 
Minnows,  Suckers,  &c.  It  is  not  often  caught  with 
the  hook,  but  easily  taken  with  the  gig  and  seine. 
It  has  the  back  and  sides  gilt  by  patches,  the  head 
variegated  with  small  gilt  spots  above  and  quite 
white  beneath.  The  eyes  are  large,  prominent  and 
brown,  situated  above  the  corners  of  the  mouth  and 
surrounded  with  a gilt  brown  iris.  The  two  dorsal 
fins  are  widely  apart,  the  first  ray  of  the  first  dorsal 
fin  is  short,  the  second  dorsal  fin  is  slightly  falcate, 
they  are  both  yellow  as  well  as  the  tail  and  with 
brown  spots,  the  other  fins  are  pale  yellowish  with 
only  a few  brown  [I.  370]  [22]  dotts.  The  rays  are, 
in  the  anal  12,  wherein  the  first  is  short  and  spiny, 
thoracic  6,  the  first  hardly  spiny,  pectoral  14,  caudal 
20.  The  whole  fish  is  covered  with  very  small  scales, 
and  the  lateral  line  begins  above  the  opercule : the 
second  spine  outside  of  the  opercule  is  remarkable. 


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2d  Species.  Golden-eyes  Perch.  Perea  chrysops. 
Perche  oeuil-d’or. 

Upper  jaw  longer,  one  spine  on  the  opercule,  body 
oblong,  breadth  one  fourth  of  total  length,  silvery 
with  five  longitudinal  brownish  stripes  on  each  side, 
head  brown  above : lateral  line  diagonal  and  straight ; 
first  dorsal  fin  with  eight  rays,  the  second  has  14, 
whereof  one  is  spiny,  tail  forked,  roseate,  tip  brown; 
base  scaly. 

Vulgar  names  Rock  fish,  Rock  bass,  Rock  perch, 
Gold  eyes,  Striped  bass,  &c.  It  is  commonly  mis- 
taken for  the  Rock  fish  or  Striped  bass  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  the  Perea  Mitchelli  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  (Trans,  of 
the  philos.  Society  of  New  York,  vol.  1.  page  413, 
tab.  3.  fig.  4.)  to  which  it  is  certainly  greatly  similar; 
but  it  differs  from  it,  by  the  single  spine  of  the  oper- 
cule, the  shape  of  the  lateral  line,  the  less  number 
of  stripes,  the  scaly  tail,  &c.  It  is  not  very  common 
in  the  Ohio,  and  is  hardly  ever  seen  at  Pittsburgh, 
being  more  common  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  river, 
where  it  frequents  the  falls,  ripples,  and  rocky  shores. 
Its  usual  size  is  about  one  foot.  It  is  very  good  to 
eat.  It  bites  at  the  hook.  The  mouth  is  large  with 
very  small  teeth,  the  three  pieces  of  the  gill  cover 
are  slightly  crenulate,  the  middle  one  or  preoper- 
cule  being  however  deeply  serrate.  The  eyes  are 
large  black  with  a large  golden  iris.  The  lateral 
line  begins  at  the  corner  of  the  opercule  and  does 
not  follow  the  curve  of  the  back,  the  stripes  are  par- 
allel with  it  and  only  two  of  them  rhach  the  tail. 
The  branchial  membrane  has  six  rays ; the  spine  of 
the  opercule  is  not  terminal.  The  dorsal  fins  are 
rufous  and  quite  separate,  the  two  first  rays  of  the 
first  are  shorter,  the  second  is  brown  posteriorly  and 


68 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


diagonally,  its  base  is  scaly  and  such  is  also  the  base 
of  the  anal  fin,  which  has  similar  colours,  and  15 
rays,  whereof  three  are  spiny.  Pectoral  fins  with  16 
rays.  Thoracic  fins  incarnate  with  six  rays,  whereof 
one  is  spiny. 

[I.  371]  \_2j]  It  will  appear  that  this  fish  differs  so 
widely  from  the  foregoing,  as  to  be  hardly  reducible 
to  the  same  genus ; but  its  great  similarity  with  the 
Perea  Mitchelli  has  compelled  me  to  retain  it  in  this 
genus,  notwithstanding  many  peculiar  characters. 
I shall  however  venture  to  propose  a new  subgenus 
or  section  in  the  genus  Perea  for  this  fish,  to  which 
the  P.  Mitclielli , may  perhaps  be  found  to  belong.  It 
may  be  called  Lepibema  and  distinguished  by  the 
scaly  bases  of  the  caudal,  anal,  and  second  dorsal 
fins,  this  last  with  some  spiny  rays,  and  all  the  three 
parts  of  the  gill  cover  more  or  less  serrulate,  besides 
the  small  teeth. 

The  Perea  Salmonea  may  also  form  a peculiar  sub- 
genus, or  section  distinguished  by  the  cylindrical 
shape  of  the  body,  long  head  and  jaws,  large  teeth, 
and  a second  spine  outside  of  the  opercule  over  the 
base  of  the  pectoral  fins.  It  may  be  called  Stizoste- 
dion , which  means  pungent  throat.  I could  have 
made  peculiar  genera  of  each  of  them,  under  the  pro- 
posed names;  but  as  they  otherwise  agree  with  the 
reduced  genus  Perea , I have  preferred  delaying  this 
innovation  until  more  species  are  found  possessing 
the  same  distinctions,  in  which  case  my  two  perches 
may  then  be  called  Stizostedion  salmoneum,  and  Lepibe- 
ma chrysops. 

3d  Species.  Black  dotted  Perch.  Perea  nigro- 
punctata.  Perche  a-points-noirs. 

Upper  jaw  longer;  body  brown,  covered  all  over 


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69 


with  black  dotts,  breadth  one  sixth  of  the  length, 
lateral  line  nearly  straight  the  anal  fins  very  long, 
tail  truncate.  I have  not  seen  this  species,  I describe 
it  from  a drawing  made  by  Mr.  Audubon.  I am 
therefore  doubtful,  whether  it  is  a real  perch,  par- 
ticularly since  the  drawing  does  not  show  the  ser- 
ratures  and  spines  of  the  gill  cover.  It  might  be  a 
Sciena,  or  a Dipterodon,  yet  the  shape  of  the  body  and 
the  distant  dorsal  fins,  induce  me  to  rank  it  with  the 
G.  Perea  until  better  known ; when  it  may  even  turn 
out  to  be  a peculiar  genus,  which  the  flexuose  oper- 
cule,  long  anal  fin  and  vent  in  the  middle  of  the 
body,  seem  to  indicate,  and  should  it  be  a real  perch, 
it  must  form  a peculiar  subgenus,  which  may  be 
called  Pomacampsis  in  either  case.  The  vulgar  names 
of  this  fish  are  Black  Perch,  Widow’s  Perch,  Dotted 
Bass,  Black  Bass,  Batchelor’s  Perch,  & c.  It  is  found 
only  in  the  lower  parts  [I.  372]  [2^]  of  the  Ohio,  from 
the  falls  to  the  mouth,  and  it  runs  up  the  small  creeks, 
but  is  rare  every  where.  Its  length  is  from  six  to 
twelve  inches.  The  snout  is  rounded,  the  head  slop- 
ing and  small,  the  preopercule  rounded,  the  opercule 
flexuose  or  nearly  lobate ; the  eyes  are  black  and 
beyond  the  mouth.  The  back  is  almost  black,  the 
two  dorsal  fins  are  dotted  like  the  body,  the  first  has 
about  twelve  spiny  rays,  and  the  second  about  eight 
soft  rays,  this  last  is  very  near  the  tail.  The  anal 
fin  has  about  twenty  rays  and  begins  just  below  the 
vent  and  the  end  of  the  first  dorsal  fin.  Vent  in  the 
middle  of  the  body,  almost  nearer  the  head. 

II  Genus.  Bubbler.  Amblodon.  Amblodon. 

Body  elliptical,  compressed,  scaly;  head  and  gill 
covers  scaly,  jaws  with  small  fily  teeth,  throat  with 


70 


ICHTH  YOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


a triangular  bone  beneath,  covered  with  large  round 
hollow  and  obtuse  teeth.  Gill  cover  with  two  pieces, 
preopercule  slightly  denticulate  at  the  base,  oper- 
cule  without  teeth  nor  spines:  branchial  membrane 
with  six  rays.  Two  dorsal  fins  contig[u]ous,  the  first 
spiny,  the  second  partly  so,  scaly  along  the  base. 
Vent  posterior. 

This  genus  was  called  by  me  Aplodinotus  G.  8.  of 
my  Memoir  on  70  New  Genera  of  American  animals, 
in  the  journal  of  Natural  History  of  Paris,  having 
been  led  into  error,  in  supposing  that  the  remarkable 
teeth  of  its  throat  belonged  to  the  Buffalo  fish,  as 
will  be  seen  below.  The  name  means  obtuse  teeth. 
It  differs  from  the  G.  Sciena  by  the  scaly  head,  oper- 
cule  and  base  of  second  dorsal  fin,  besides  the  singu- 
lar teeth.  Only  one  species  is  known  as  yet. 

4th  Species.  Grunting  Bubbler.  Amblodon grun- 
niens.  Amblodon  grognant. 

Synonymy.  Sciena  grunniens  Raf.  Catal,  fishes 
of  Ohio.  Aplodinotus  grunniens.  Raf.  Mem.  on  70 
N.  G.  Animals,  G.  8. 

Entirely  silvery,  upper  lip  longer,  lateral  line 
curved  upwards  at  the  base,  bent  in  the  middle,  and 
straight  posteriorly,  tail  lunulate,  first  dorsal  fin  with 
nine  rays,  the  first  very  short,  the  second  with  35 
rays,  the  first  spiny  and  short. 

The  vulgar  names  of  this  fish  are  White-perch, 
White-pearch,  Buff  aloe-perch,  grunting-perch,  bub- 
bling-fish,  bubbler,  and  muscle-eater.  It  is  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  found  in  the  Ohio,  reaching 
sometimes  to  the  length  of  three  feet  and  the  [I.  373] 
[25]  weight  of  thirty  pounds,  and  affording  a delicate 
food.  It  is  also  one  of  the  most  common,  being 
found  all  over  the  Ohio,  and  even  the  Monongahela 


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71 


and  Alleghany,  as  also  in  the  Mississippi,  Tennessee* 
Cumberland,  Kentucky,  Wabash,  Miami,  &c.  and  all 
the  large  tributary  streams : where  it  is  permanent, 
since  it  is  found  at  all  seasons  except  in  winter.  In 
Pittsburgh  it  appears  again  in  February.  It  feeds 
on  many  species  of  fishes,  Suckers,  Catfishes,  Sun- 
fishes,  &c.  but  principally  on  the  muscles,  or  various 
species  of  the  bivalve  genus  Unio,  so  common  in  the 
Ohio,  whose  thick  shells  it  is  enabled  to  crush  by 
means  of  its  large  throat  teeth.  The  structure  of 
those  teeth  is  very  singular  and  peculiar,  they  are 
placed  like  paving  stones  on  the  flat  bone  of  the 
lower  throat,  in  great  numbers  and  of  different  sizes; 
the  largest,  which  are  as  big  as  a man’s  nails,  are 
always  in  the  centre ; they  are  inverted  in  faint 
alveoles,  but  not  at  all  connected  with  the  bone; 
their  shape  is  circular  and  flattened,  the  inside 
always  hollow,  with  a round  hole  beneath : in  the 
young  fishes  they  are  rather  convex  above  and  evi- 
dently radiated  and  mamillar ; while  in  the  old  fishes 
they  become  smooth,  truncate,  and  shining  white. 
These  teeth  and  their  bone  are  common  in  many 
museums,  where  they  are  erroneously  called  teeth  of 
the  Buffalo-fish  or  of  a Cat-fish.  I was  deceived  so 
far  by  this  mistake  and  by  the  repeated  assertions  of 
several  persons,  as  to  ascribe  those  teeth  to  the 
Buffalo-fish,  which  I have  since  found  to  be  a real 
Catostomus;  this  error  I now  correct  with  pleasure. 

A remarkable  peculiarity  of  this  fish  consists  in 
the  strange  grunting  noise,  which  it  produces,  and 
from  which  I have  derived  its  specific  name.  It  is 
intermediate  between  the  dumb  grunt  of  a hog  and 
the  single  croaking  noise  of  the  bull  frog : that  grunt 
is  only  repeated  at  intervals  and  not  in  quick  succes- 


72 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


sion.  Every  navigator  of  the  Ohio  is  well  acquainted 
with  it,  as  they  often  come  under  the  boats  to  enjoy 
their  shade  in  summer  and  frequently  make  their 
noise.  Another  peculiarity  of  this  fish,  is  the  habit 
which  it  has  of  producing  large  bubbles  in  quick 
succession,  while  digging  through  the  mud  or  sand 
of  the  river,  in  search  of  the  Muscles  or  Unios. 

It  has  a small  head,  sloping  and  compressed  all 
the  way  from  [I.  374]  [26]  the  snout  to  the  dorsal 
fins  and  entirely  scaly;  thick,  hard,  and  extensible 
lips,  and  2 nostrils  on  each  side,  the  posterior  larger 
oblong  & obliqual : the  opercule  is  rounded  with  gilt 
shades;  those  shades  extend  to  the  sides  of  the  body, 
while  the  back  is  slightly  dark  or  brownish,  and  the 
upper  part  of  the  head  olivaceous.  The  iris  is  gilt 
brown  and  the  fins  are  brownish,  except  the  thoracic 
and  pectoral,  which  are  reddish;  these  last  have  18 
rays,  while  the  thoracic  have  seven,  whereof  the  first 
is  spiny  and  the  second  mucronate.  Tail  with  twenty 
rays.  Anal  fin  narrow  elongate,  brown  tinged  with 
reddish,  and  with  nine  rays,  whereof  the  first  is  spiny, 
very  small  and  flat,  the  second  is  also  spiny,  but  very 
thick,  large  and  triangular,  the  third  ray  is  the  long- 
est and  the  last  is  mucronate.  The  first  dorsal  fin  is 
triangular  and  broader  than  the  second,  which  is  very 
long  and  rounded  behind. 

This  fish  is  either  taken  in  the  seine  or  with  the 
hook  and  line ; it  bites  easily,  and  affords  fine  sport 
to  the  fishermen.  It  spawns  in  the  spring,  and  lays 
a great  quantity  of  eggs. 

Ill  Genus.  Calliurus.  Painted  Tail.  Calliure. 

Body  elongate,  compressed,  scaly;  fore  part  of  the 
head  without  scales,  neck  and  gill-covers  scaly: 


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mouth  large  with  strong  teeth  in  both  jaws,  and 
without  lips.  Gill  cover  double,  preopercule  divided 
downwards  into  three  curved  and  carinated  sutures, 
without  serrature : opercule  with  an  acute  and  mem- 
branaceous appendage,  before  which  stands  a flat 
spine.  One  dorsal  fin,  spiny  anteriorly,  depressed  in 
the  middle.  Anal  fin  with  spiny  rays,  thoracic  with 
none,  and  only  five  soft  rays.  Vent  nearly  medial. 

The  generic  name  means  fine  tail.  It  differs  prin- 
cipally from  the  genus  Holocentrus , by  the  head, 
scaly  gill  cover  and  singular  propercule:  Genus  12  of 
my  70  New  Genera  of  American  Animals. 

5th  Species.  Dotted  Painted  tail.  Calliurus 
Punctulatuse . Calliure  pointille. 

Lower  jaw  longer:  body  olivaceous  crowded  with 
blackish  dotts:  head  brownish,  flattened  above:  lat- 
eral line  hardly  curved  upwards  at  the  base:  tail 
unequally  bilobed,  lower  lobe  larger,  base  yellow, 
middle  blackish,  tip  white:  dorsal  fin  yellow  with  24 
rays,  of  which  10  are  spiny. 

[I.  375]  [2f\  An  uncommon  fish  from  four  to  twelve 
inches  long.  I observed  it  at  the  falls;  rare  in  the 
Ohio,  more  common  in  some  small  streams.  Vulgar 
names,  Painted-tail  or  Bride-perch.  Tail  with  two 
lobes,  slightly  unequal,  base  flexuose.  Belly  and 
lower  fins  pale,  anal  fin  with  13  rays,  the  three  ante- 
rior spiny  and  shorter,  behind  rounded  and  far  from 
the  tail,  although  nearer  than  the  dorsal  fin.  Tho- 
racic fin  with  five  rays,  none  of  which  appear  spiny, 
and  no  appendage.  Pectoral  fins  short,  trapezoidal, 
with  15  rays.  Branchial  rays  concealed. 

IV.  Genus.  Sunfish.  Icthelis.  Icthele. 

Body  elliptical  or  oval  very  compressed,  scaly. 
Mouth  small,  with  small  teeth  and  thin  lips.  Gill 


74 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  0HIENS1S 


cover  double,  scaly,  without  serrature  or  spines. 
One  dorsal  fin,  broader  behind,  with  anterior  spiny 
rays,  as  well  as  the  anal  and  thoracic  fins,  these  with- 
out appendages.  Vent  hardly  posterior.  Lateral 
line  following  the  curve  of  the  back. 

Synonymy  Lepomis.  Prod.  70  New  Genera,  13 
Genus. 

An  extensive  genus,  which  contains  perhaps  20 
species,  most  of  which  were  blended  with  the  Labrus 
anritns  and  Labrus  virginicus  of  Linneus.  They  differ 
from  the  genus  Labrus  or  rather  Sparus,  by  the  scaly 
opercule  and  the  thoracic  fins  without  appendage.  I 
have  already  detected  six  species  in  the  western 
waters;  but  there  are  more.  I divide  them  into  two 
subgenera.  Meaning  Sun-fish.  All  good  to  eat,  and 
easily  taken  with  the  hook;  they  feed  on  worms  and 
young  fishes.  They  are  permanent. 

1st  Subgenus.  Telipomis. 

Opercule  without  appendage ; but  spotted  — Mean- 
ing spotted  gills. 

6th  Species.  Gilded  Sunfisii.  Lcthelis  macrochira. 
Icthele  macrochire. 

Body  oval,  oblong,  gilt,  crowded  with  small  brown 
dotts;  head  small,  scaly,  opercule  flexuose,  spot  nar- 
row marginal  and  black,  jaws  equal:  tail  forked: 
pectoral  fins  long  and  narrow,  reaching  the  anal  fin, 
which  has  13  rays,  whereof  three  are  spiny. 

A pretty  species  from  three  to  four  inches  long. 
In  the  Ohio,  Green  river,  Wabash,  &c.  Names,  Sun- 
fish,  Gold-fish,  &c.  Head  rather  acute,  not  scaly 
before  the  eyes.  Iris  gilt  brown.  [I.  376]  [28]  Dor- 
sal fin  with  22  long  rays,  whereof  1 1 are  spiny,  a 
depression  between  the  two  sorts  of  rays.  Anal  fin 


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75 


broad  and  rounded.  Tail  20  rays.  Thoracic  one 
and  five.  Pectoral  15.  Diameter  of  the  body  nearly 
one  fourth  of  total  length. 

7th  Species.  Blue  Sunfish.  Icthelis  cyanella. 
Icthele  bleuatre. 

Body  elliptic,  elongate,  diameter  one  fifth,  oliva- 
ceous gilt,  crowded  with  irregular  blue  dotts;  brown- 
ish above : head  elongate,  lower  jaw  longer,  cheeks 
with  blue  flexuose  lines;  spot  oblong  blackish,  nearly 
marginal : tail  rounded,  notched : anal  fin  very  broad 
with  12  rays,  whereof  three  are  short  spiny:  pectoral 
fins  very  short. 

A small  species  hardly  three  inches,  called  Blue- 
fish  or  Sun-fish.  I found  it  on  the  Ohio  at  the  falls. 
Appearing  entirely  blue  at  a distance.  Head  brown 
above.  Iris  gilt.  Opercule  curved.  Tail  olive  blue, 
with  24  rays.  Dorsal  fin  brownish  with  20  rays, 
whereof  10  are  spiny,  hardly  any  middle  depression. 
Pectoral  small  trapezoidal,  12  rays.  Thoracic  one 
and  five. 

8th  Species.  Blackeye  Sunfish.  Icthelis  mela- 
nops  Icthele  aeuil-noir. 

Body  oblong,  diameter  one  fourth,  olivaceous  cov- 
ered with  blue  dotts,  neck  brown  above,  head  large, 
mouth  rather  large,  upper  jaw  longer;  opercule  with 
blue  curved  and  longitudinal  lines  beneath : spot 
rounded  black  at  its  base : fins  olivaceous,  tail  bilobed : 
anal  fin  with  three  and  nine  rays : pectoral  fins  large 
oboval. 

Length  from  two  to  six  inches:  common  in  the 
tributary  streams  of  the  Ohio,  the  Kentucky,  Licking, 
Miami,  &c.  and  even  in  small  creeks.  Vulgar  names, 
Blue-fish,  Black-eyes,  Sun-fish,  Blue-bass,  &c.  It  has 
black  eyes  like*  all  the  other  species;  but  the  iris  is 


76 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


black  also,  with  a silvery  hue  or  ring.  Dorsal  fin 
with  ten  and  ten  rays,  the  spiny  ones  very  short. 
Caudal  20.  Pectoral  16.  Thoracic  one  and  five,  as 
usual;  but  the  spiny  ray  is  very  short,  as  are  also 
those  of  the  anal  fin. 

2d  Subgenus.  Pomotis. 

Opercule  with  a membranaceous  appendage,  often 
like  an  auricule  and  spotted.  Meaning  eared  gills. 

[I.  377]  [ap]  9th  Species.  Redeye  Sunfish.  Icthe- 
lis  Enythrops.  Itchele  oeuil  rouge. 

Body  oval  elliptic,  (diameter  one  third,)  blackish 
above,  olivaceous  on  the  sides,  whitish  beneath : head 
small,  lower  jaw  longer,  propercule  flexuose,  oper- 
cule with  a short,  angular  and  acute  appendage,  a 
faint  and  small  brown  spot  above  it:  tail  bilobed, 
ciliate,  base  black,  middle  olivaceous,  tip  whitish,  up- 
per lobe  rather  larger:  anal  fin  with  six  and  ten  rays : 
pectorals  trapezoidal  large,  not  reaching  the  vent. 

[II.  49]  10th  Species.  Eared  Sunfish.  Icthelis 
aurita.  Icthele  oreillee. 

Body  oval  elliptic  (diameter  one  third)  olivaceous 
with  blue  and  rufous  dots:  head  small,  jaws  equal, 
opercule  flexuose,  appendage  black,  broad  and  trun- 
cate, some  blue  flexuose  lines  on  the  sides  of  the 
head:  tail  brownish  lunulate;  back  brownish:  anal 
fin  3 and  9:  pectorals  not  reaching  the  vent.  Tho- 
racic mucronate. 

Length  from  3 to  12  inches:  common  in  the  rivers, 
creeks,  and  ponds  of  Kentucky.  Vulgar  name  Sun- 
fish. Iris  brown.  Dorsal  fin  brownish,  10  and  10, 
spiny  rays  shorter.  Thoracic  fins  very  long,  spiny  ray 
rather  shorter,  first  soft  ray  mucronate.  Pectorals 
nearly  rhomboidal,  with  14  rays.  Tail  16  rays. 


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nth  Species.  Big-ear  Sunfish.  Icthelis  megalotis. 
Icthele  megalote. 

Body  oval  rounded,  (diameter  two  fifths,)  ches[t]nut 
colour  with  blue  dots,  belly  red:  head  large,  lower 
jaw  longer,  opercule  with  blue  flexuose  lines,  appen- 
dage black,  very  large  elliptic,  end  rounded : tail  black, 
slightly  forked:  pectoral  large  reaching  the  vent: 
anal  fin  3 and  9:  thoracics  long  and  mucronate. 
Black  tail. 

A fine  species,  called  Red-belly,  Black-ears,  Black- 
tail  Sun-fish,  &c.  It  lives  in  the  Kentucky,  Licking, 
and  Sandy  rivers,  &c.  Length  from  4 to  8 inches. 
Head  very  sloping.  Iris  sil-  [II.  50]  [jo]  very  brown. 
Belly  of  a bright  copper  red  colour.  All  the  fins 
black  except  the  pectorals  which  are  olivaceous, 
trapezoidal  acute  and  large.  The  dorsal  has  20  rays, 
whereof  9 short  ones  are  spiny.  Body  very  short, 
hardly  as  long  as  broad,  if  the  head  and  tail  are 
deducted.  Thoracics  like  those  of  the  foregoing 
species. 

V Genus.  River  Bass.  Lepomis.  Lepome. 

This  genus  differs  from  Holoceyitrus  by  having  the 
opercule  scaly,  from  Calliurus  by  the  opercule  only 
being  such,  while  the  preopercule  is  simple  and 
united  above  with  a square  suture  over  the  head, 
besides  the  thoracic  fins  with  6 rays.  Perhaps  the 
Calliurus  ought  only  to  be  a subgenus  of  this.  From 
the  G.  Icthelis  it  differs  by  the  large  mouth  and  spines 
on  the  opercule. 

The  name  means  scaly  gills.  The  species  are 
numerous  throughout  the  United  States.  They  are 
permanent;  but  ramblers  in  the  Ohio  and  tributary 
streams.  They  are  fishes  of  prey,  and  easily  caught 


ICHTHYOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


with  the  hook.  I shall  divide  them  into  two  sub- 
genera. I had  wrongly  blended  this  genus  and  the 
Icthelis  under  the  name  Lepomis  13.  G.  of  my  Prodr. 
N.  G. 


1st  Subgenus.  Aplites. 

Only  one  flat  spine  on  the  opercule,  decurrent  in  a 
small  medial  opercule : first  ray  of  the  thoracic  fins 
soft  or  hardly  spiny.  Meaning,  single  weapon. 

12th  Species.  Pale  River-bass.  Lepomis  pallida. 
Lepome  pale. 

Olivaceous  above,  white  beneath,  a brown  spot  at 
the  base  of  the  lateral  line,  an  obtuse  appendage  on 
the  opercule,  spine  behind  it:  3 faint  obliqual  streaks 
on  the  gill  covers;  lower  jaw  longer:  tail  forked, 
pale  yellow,  tip  brown. 

Not  uncommon  in  the  Ohio,  Miami,  Hockhocking, 
&c.  Vulgar  name  Yellow  Bass,  common  Bass,  &c. 
Length  from  4 to  12  inches.  Shape  elliptic,  diameter 
one  fourth  of  the  total  length.  Fins  olivaceous, 
without  streaks,  dorsal  depressed  or  interrupted 
in  the  middle,  9 spiny  rays  to  the  fore  part,  the 
medial  longer,  1 spiny  ray  and  14  soft  rays  to  the 
hind  part.  Anal  fin  rounded  13  rays,  whereof  2 are 
spiny  and  short.  Pectorals  rounded  with  14  rays. 
Tail  with  18.  Thoracics  with  6.  Eyes  [II.  51]  [j/] 
large,  black,  iris  brown  with  a gold  ring.  Lateral 
line  following  the  back,  straight  near  the  tail. 

13th  Species.  Streaked-cheeks  River-Bass. 
Lepomis  trifasciata.  Lepome  trifasciee. 

Whitish,  crowded  with  unequal  and  irregular 
specks,  of  a gilt  olive  colour,  none  on  the  belly:  gill 
covers  with  3 large  oblique  streaks  of  the  same 
colour:  opercule  without  appendage,  spine  acute,  a 


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faint  brown  spot  below  the  lateral  line:  lower  jaw 
longer:  dorsal  fin  streaked  behind:  tail  forked,  yel- 
low at  the  base,  brown  in  the  middle,  tip  pale. 

Found  in  the  Ohio  and  many  other  streams,  reaches 
over  a foot  in  length  sometimes : vulgar  names  Yellow 
bass,  Gold  bass,  Yellow  perch,  Streaked-head,  &c. 
Fins  olivaceous:  dorsal  hardly  depressed  in  the  mid- 
dle with  24  rays,  whereof  10  are  spiny,  hind  part 
with  3 brownish  and  longitudinal  streaks.  Anal  fin 
rounded  with  13  rays,  3 of  which  are  spiny,  2 short 
and  a long  one.  Pectoral  fins  nearly  triangular  and 
acute,  16  rays.  Thoracics  6.  Tail  2,  very  broad, 
forks  divaricate  nearly  lunulate.  Eyes  small  black, 
iris  brown.  Lateral  line  following  the  back.  Diame- 
ter less  than  one  fourth  of  the  length. 

14th  Species.  Brown  River-bass.  Lepomis  flexii- 
olaris.  Lepome  flexueux. 

Olivaceous  brown  above,  sides  with  some  trans- 
versal and  flexuose  olive  lines,  belly  white:  lateral 
line  nearly  straight  flexuose:  spine  broad  acute, 
behind  the  base  of  the  opercule,  no  appendage  nor 
spot,  preopercule  forked  downwards:  upper  jaw 
slightly  longer:  tail  bilobed,  base  olive,  middle 

brown,  tip  white. 

A fine  species,  reaching  the  length  of  two  feet,  and 
affording  an  excellent  food.  Common  all  over  the 
Ohio  and  tributary  streams.  Vulgar  names,  Black 
Bass,  Brown  Bass,  Black  Pearch ; &c.  Fins  oliva- 
ceous, dorsal  with  23  rays,  whereof  9 are  spiny  and 
rather  shorter:  anal  with  12  rays,  whereof  2 are 
spiny:  pectorals  trapezoidal,  16  rays.  Branchial  rays 
uncovered.  Iris  brown.  This  fish  might  perhaps 
form  another  subgenus,  by  the  large  mouth,  head 
without  upper  sutures,  spine  hardly  decurrent,  nearly 


80 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


equal  jaws,  gill  covers,  lateral  line,  &c.  Its  tail 
and  preopercule  are  somewhat  like  Calliurus.  It 
might  be  called  Nemocampsis,  meaning  flexuose  line. 
Diameter  one  fourth  of  the  length. 

[II.  52]  2d  Su'bgenus.  Dioplites. 

Opercule  with  two  spines  above.  First  ray  of  the 
thoracic  fins  spiny.  Lateral  line  curved  as  the  back. 
Meaning  two  weapons. 

15th  Species.  Trout  River-bass.  Lepomis  Sal- 
monea.  Lepome  saumone. 

Olivaceous  brown  above,  sides  pale  with  some 
round  yellowish  spots,  beneath  white:  preopercule 
simple,  head  without  sutures,  lower  . jaw  hardly 
longer,  spines  flat,  short,  acute,  and  decurrent  above 
and  beneath,  opercule  acute  beneath  the  spines:  tail 
lunulate,  tip  blackish : vent  posterior. 

Length  from  6 to  24  inches.  Vulgar  names  White 
Trout,  Brown  Trout,  Trout  Pearch,  Trout  Bass, 
Brown  Bass,  Black  Bass,  Black  Pearch,  &c.  Com- 
mon in  the  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Green;  and  Licking 
rivers,  &c.  It  offers  a delicate  white  flesh,  similar 
to  the  Perea  Salmonea.  It  is  a voracious  fish,  with 
many  rows  of  sharp  teeth  on  the  jaws  and  in  the 
throat.  It  bites  easily  at  the  hook,  and  eats  suckers, 
minnows,  and  chubs.  Diameter  one  fifth  of  the 
length.  Fins  olivaceous  brown  ; dorsal  with  2 5 rays, 
whereof  10  are  spiny,  slightly  depressed  between 
them : anal  rounded  small,  3 and  1 1 rays.  Pectoral 
acute  trapesoidal  18  rays.  Thoracic  1 and  5,  spiny 
ray  half  the  length.  Tail  with  24  rays.  Iris  silvery. 

1 6th  Species.  Spotted  River-bass.  Lepomis  no- 
tata.  Lepome  tache. 

This  species  differs  merely  from  the  foregoing,  by 


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81 


having  a black  spot  on  the  margin  of  the  opercule, 
two  diagonal  brown  stripes  on  each  side  of  the  head 
below  the  eyes,  and  all  the  fins  yellow,  except  the 
tail  which  is  black  at  the  end,  with  a narrow  white 
tip.  It  is  also  smaller,  from  3 to  8 inches  long.  It 
bears  the  same  vulgar  names  and  is  found  along  with 
it,  of  which  some  fishermen  deem  that  it  is  the 
young.  But  I have  seen  so  many  false  assertions  of 
the  kind  elsewhere,  that  I am  inclined  to  doubt  this 
fact,  as  it  would  be  very  strange  that  the  gradual 
changes  should  be  so  great.  Yet  this  ought  to  be 
enquired  into,  since  many  vulgar  opinions  are  often 
found  to  be  correct. 

17th  Species.  Sunfish  River-bass.  Lepomis 
ictheloides.  Lepome  ictheloide. 

[II.  53]  [jj]  Silvery,  olivaceous  above,  some  faint 
blackish  spots  on  the  sides:  lower  jaw  hardly  longer, 
head  with  sutures,  two  flat,  broad  and  obtuse  spines 
above  the  opercule,  decurrent  with  the  sutures. 
Vent  medial.  Tail  lunulate.  Diameter  one  fourth 
of  the  length. 

A very  distinct  species  from  the  two  foregoing. 
It  might  almost  form  a peculiar  subgenus,  by  the 
medial  vent,  and  obtuse  spines  situated  above  the 
lateral  line  and  opercule.  It  might  be  called  Amblo- 
plites  or  obtuse  weapons.  It  is  found  in  the  Ken- 
tucky and  tributary  streams.  Vulgar  names  White 
Bass,  or  Sunfish  Bass.  Length  from  4 to  8 inches. 
It  is  also  a fish  of  prey  and  has  many  rows  of  sharp 
teeth.  Its  flesh  is  like  that  of  the  Sunfishes.  Lat- 
eral line  following  the  curve  of  the  back.  Iris  sil- 
very. Body  with  gilt  shades;  dorsal  with  21  rays, 
11  spiny,  no  depression.  Anal  15,  whereof  5 are 
spiny  and  gradually  shorter.  Thoracics  1 and  5. 


82 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHJENSIS 


Pectoral  broad  12  rays.  Tail  16.  Branchial  rays  5. 
A faint  and  narrow  marginal  black  spot  on  the  oper- 
cnle  beneath  the  spines. 

VI  Genus.  Pomoxis.  Pomoxis.  Pomoxe. 

Body  elliptic,  compressed,  scaly.  Vent  anterior. 
Head  scaleless,  jaws  plaited  extensible,  roughened  by 
very  minute  teeth.  Gill  cover  smooth,  scaleless,  pro- 
percule  forked  beneath,  opercule  membranaceous  and 
acute  posteriorly.  Thoracic  fins  without  appendage, 
but  a spiny  ray.  One  dorsal  fin  opposite  to  the  anal, 
both  with  many  spiny  rays. 

A very  remarkable  genus  by  the  anterior  vent, 
equal  anal  and  dorsal  fin,  by  which  it  differs  from 
the  genus  Sparus , besides  the  want  of  appendage, 
&c.  The  name  means  acute  opercule. 

1 8th  species.  Gold-ring  Pomoxis.  Pomoxis 
annularis . Pomoxe  annulaire. 

Synonymy.  Pomoxis  annularis.  Journal  of  the 
Acad,  of  Nat.  Science  of  Philadelphia,  vol.  1,  p.  417, 
tab.  17,  fig.  1. 

Silvery,  back  olivaceous,  with  some  geminate 
brown  transversal  lines ; a golden  ring  at  the  base  of 
the  tail;  lateral  line  straight:  dorsal  and  anal  fins 
with  six  spiny  rays,  a marginal  black  spot  behind 
both  fins:  tail  forked:  lower  jaw  longer. 

Vulgar  names  Gold-ring  and  Silver-perch.  Found 
in  August  at  the  falls,  probably  permanent.  Length 
from  three  to  [II.  54]  [ jy]  six  inches.  Good  to  eat. 
Eyes  black,  iris  silvery.  Diameter  three  tenths  of 
the  length.  Head  gilt  above.  Pectoral  fins  reaching 
the  vent.  Scales  deciduous  and  a little  ciliated.  End 
of  the  tail  blackish.  Spiny  rays  of  the  anal  and 
dorsal  fins  gradually  longer,  but  shorter  than  the  soft 


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rays,  which  are  also  gradually  decreasing;  the  dorsal 
has  only  14,  while  the  anal  has  16  such  rays.  Cau- 
dal 28.  Thoracic  one  and  five. 

VII  Genus.  Red-eye.  Aplocentrus.  Aplocentre. 

Body  elliptic,  compressed.  Head  small,  jaws  with 
lips  and  teeth,  opercule  smooth  and  flexuose.  Vent 
medial.  One  longitudinal  dorsal  fin  with  only  one 
spine. 

A singular  genus,  intermediate  between  Labrus, 
Cynedus,  and  Coryphena ; but  belonging  to  the  family 
of  Labrides.  The  name  means  single  spine.  I 
describe  it  from  a drawing  made  by  Mr.  Audubon. 
It  is  also  the  1 ith  genus  of  my  Prodromus. 

19th  Species.  Ohio  Red-eye.  Aplocentrus  calliops. 
Aplocentre  belaeuil. 

Pale  greenish  above,  with  some  flexuose  transver- 
sal black  lines,  yellowish  beneath  the  lateral  line, 
and  with  some  small  black  lines,  whitish  and  un- 
spotted beneath : iris  red:  forehead  flexuose  convex: 
upper  jaw  hardly  longer:  dorsal  spine  longer:  tail 
flabelliform  : lateral  line  straight. 

A beautiful  fish  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  long. 
It  lives  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Ohio,  in  Green 
river,  &c.  Vulgar  names  Red-eyes,  Bride  pearch, 
Batchelor’s  pearch,  Green  bass,  &c.  Breadth  about 
one  fourth  of  the  length.  Dorsal  fin  beginning  be- 
hind the  head  with  a long  spiny  ray  and  ending  close 
to  the  tail,  variegated  with  flexuose  black  lines: 
broad  at  the  base,  depressed  near  the  tail,  and  sud- 
denly broad  again  at  the  end.  Anal  fin  small. 
Thoracic  fin  triangular.  Lateral  line  rather  broad. 
Iris  large  and  red.  Tail  unspotted,  and  with  rounded 
tip  or  fan-shaped. 


84 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


VIII  Genus.  Barbot.  Pogostoma.  Barbotte. 

Body  oval,  compressed.  Head  small,  jaws  equal, 
without  teeth,  but  with  lips  and  six  barbs,  two  to 
each  lip  and  two  to  the  lower  jaw:  opercule  smooth, 
rounded.  Two  distant  dorsal  fins. 

A fine  genus  next  to  Dipterodon  and  Cheilodipteriis-, 
it  be- [II.  55]  [J5]  longs  to  the  family  of  Labrides, 
and  is  distinguished  from  all  the  other  genera  by  its 
barbs.  The  real  name  means  bearded  mouth.  It 
was  the  10th  genus  of  my  prod,  of  70  new  genera. 

20th  species.  White-eyes  Barbot.  Pogostoma 
leucops.  Barbotte  oeuilblanc. 

Brown,  with  five  black  curved  streaks,  two  on  each 
side  and  one  on  the  back,  lateral  line  curved  joining 
the  lower  streaks : whitish  beneath ; a row  of  trans- 
versal lunulate,  geminate  and  black  lines,  between 
the  two  lateral  streaks,  six  similar  ones  on  the  gill 
cover:  a large  white  and  round  patch  surrounding 
the  eyes : tail  forked : vent  posterior. 

A beautiful  fish:  shape  of  sunfish:  length  some- 
times twelve  inches  and  weight  one  pound.  It  is 
found  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Ohio  and  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi ; but  is  a rare  fish.  It  has  great  many  vulgar 
names,  such  as  White-eyes,  Spectacles-fish,  Streaked 
Sunfish,  Black  Sunfish,  Barbot,  Bearded  Sunfish,  &c. 
and  the  French  settlers  call  it  Barbotte,  Poisson 
lunette,  and  Giuil  blanc.  It  does  not  bite  the  hook, 
and  is  only  taken  with  the  seine.  The  row  of  lunu- 
lated  lateral  lines  have  the  convexity  towards  the 
head  and  extend  through  the  tail.  The  two  dorsal 
fins  are  short  and  trapezoidal,  anal  fins  very  small. 
Pectoral  long.  Thoracic  under  their  hind  part. 
Convexity  of  the  three  pairs  of  lines  on  the  opercule, 


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85 


looking  upwards.  Eyes  small  and  black,  iris  narrow 
and  yellow,  the  white  patch  appears  as  a second  iris. 
Chin  and  forehead  between  the  eyes  depressed,  which 
form  a kind  of  rounded  snout,  mouth  small,  jaws 
equal.  I describe  it  from  a drawing  of  Mr.  Audubon. 

IX  Genus.  Hogfish.  Etheostoma.  Etheostome. 

Body  nearly  cylindrical  and  scaly.  Mouth  variable 
with  small  teeth.  Gill  cover  double  or  triple  unser- 
rate,  with  a spine  on  the  opercule  and  without  scales: 
six  branchial  rays.  Thoracic  fins  with  six  rays,  one 
of  which  is  spiny;  no  appendage.  One  dorsal  fin 
more  or  less  divided  in  two  parts,  the  anterior  one 
with  entirely  spiny  rays.  . Vent  medial  or  rather 
anterior. 

A singular  new  genus,  of  which  I have  already 
detected  five  species,  so  different  from  each  other 
that  they  might  form  as  many  subgenera.  Yet  they 
agree  in  the  above  characters,  and  differ  from  the 
genus  Sciena  by  the  shape  of  the  body  and  [II.  56]  [j<5] 
mouth,  and  the  divided  dorsal  fin.  The  name  means 
different  mouths.  I divide  it  into  two  subgenera. 
They  are  all  very  small  fishes,  hardly  noticed,  and 
only  employed  for  bait;  yet  they  are  good  to  eat, 
fried,  and  may  often  \>e  taken  with  baskets  at  the 
falls  and  mill  races.  They  feed  on  worms  and 
spawn. 

1st  Subgenus.  Aplesion. 

Dorsal  fin  single,  split  in  the  middle.  Meaning 
nearly  simple. 

2 1st  Species.  Bass  Hogfish.  Etheostoma  calliura. 
Etheostome  calliure. 

Body  slightly  fusiform  and  compressed,  silvery, 


86 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


olivaceous  above,  some  flexuose  transversal  brown- 
ish lines  on  the  sides:  lower  jaw  longer,  preoper- 
cule  double,  opercule  with  an  angular  appendage  and 
an  obtuse  spine  behind  it:  scales  smooth,  lateral  line 
flexuose:  tail  forked,  tri-coloured,  and  with  a brown 
spot  at  the  base. 

The  largest  species  of  the  genus  from  three  to 
nine  inches  long.  It  has  some  similarity  with  the 
Lepomis  flexuolaris,  and  some  other  River  bass,  where- 
fore it  is  called  Minny-bass,  Little  bass,  Hog-bass, 
&c.  common  in  the  Ohio,  Salt  river,  &c.  It  has 
sharp  teeth.  The  head  is  large,  rugose  above:  iris 
large  gilt  brown : branchial  rays  uncovered.  Diame- 
ter one  seventh  of  the  length.  Lateral  line  curved 
upwards  at  its  base.  Fins  olivaceous.  Dorsal  with 
9 and  14  rays,  beginning  behind  the  pectorals  and 
ending  far  from  the  tail,  like  the  anal,  which  has  12 
rays,  whereof  one  is  spiny.  Pectoral  fins  short  trape- 
zoidal 16  rays.  Tail  24,  fine,  base  with  a yellow 
curved  ring,  followed  by  a forked  band  of  a pale 
violaceous  colour,  tip  hyalin.  Mouth  straight. 

22d  Species.  Fantail  Hogfish.  Et  he  0 stoma  flab  el- 
lata.  Etheostome  eventail. 

Body  olivaceous  brown,  with  transverse  unequal 
brown  streaks,  a black  spot  at  the  lower  base  of  the 
lateral  line  which  is  straight ; scales  ciliated : mouth 
puckered  obliqual,  jaws  nearly  equal,  cheeks  swelled, 
preopercule  simple,  opercule  curved,  spine  acute: 
pectoral  fins  rounded.  Tail  oboval  flabelliform. 

A small  fish  only  two  or  three  inches  long,  common 
at  the  falls  of  Ohio.  Vulgar  names  Fan-tail,  Black- 
bass,  Pucker,  &c.  [II.  57]  [j7]  Head  small,  with 
swelled  and  dotted  cheeks:  iris  brown  with  an  inter- 
nal gold  ring ; branchial  rays  concealed.  Scales  small 


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roughened.  Dorsal  fin  beginning  above  the  pecto- 
rals and  ending  beyond  the  anal,  with  8 short  spiny 
rays  and  12  soft  ones,  olivaceous,  with  a longitudinal 
brown  stripe.  Vent  anterior:  anal  fin  very  far  from 
the  tail,  convex  pale,  rays  1 and  8.  Pectoral  fins 
15.  Caudal  20,  olivaceous  with  many  small  trans- 
versal and  flexuose  lines.  Diameter  less  than  one 
seventh  of  the  length. 

[II.  169]  23d  Species.  Black  Hogfish.  Etheos- 
toma  ?iigra.  Etheostome  noire. 

Entirely  black,  pale  beneath ; scales  smooth,  lateral 
line  streight,  mouth  rather  beneath,  forehead  rounded, 
upper  jaw  longer;  preopercule  rounded,  spine  acute: 
vent  rather  anterior:  tail  entire  nearly  truncate. 

From  one  to  two  inches  long.  Observed  in  Green 
river.  Vulgar  name,  Black  minny.  Iris  black,  sil- 
very, and  small.  Diameter  one  seventh  of  the  length, 
without  spots.  Head  small.  Pectoral  fins  oboval. 
Tail  20.  Anal  fin  2 and  8.  Dorsal  10  and  12. 

2d  Subgenus.  Diplesion. 

Dorsal  fin  nearly  double,  divided  into  two  joining 
parts.  Meaning  nearly  double. 

24th  Species.  Blunt  nose  Hogfish.  Etheostoma 
Blennioides.  Etheostome  blennioide. 

Body  elongate,  breadth  one  eighth  of  the  length, 
olivaceous  almost  diapianous,  some  brown  spots  on 
the  back,  and  some  brown  geminate  transversal  lines 
across  the  lateral  line,  which  is  straight,  but  raised 
at  the  base.  Head  small,  snout  rounded,  mouth 
small  beneath,  lower  jaw  shorter;  opercule  angular, 
spine  acute;  scales  ciliated,  pectoral  fins  elongate, 
tail  also,  and  bilobed  at  the  end. 

A strange  species,  which  has  the  appearance,  head, 


88 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  0H1ENSIS 


and  spots  of  many  Blennies.  Length  two  or  three 
inches,  and  slender.  Seen  in  the  Ohio,  Wabash, 
Muskingum,  &c.  Colour  pale,  sometimes  fulvous, 
whitish  beneath.  Cheeks  swelled  and  smooth,  pre- 
opercule  simple  arched,  opercule  quite  angular:  iris 
large  and  blackish : scales  roughened  by  the  ciliation. 
Dorsal  fin  13  and  13,  beginning  above  the  middle  of 
the  pectorals  and  ending  with  the  anal,  one  faint 
longitudinal  brown  stripe  on  [j<?]  it.  Tail  20  rays, 
with  many  small  transversal  lines.  Vent  medial. 
Anal  fin  2 and  8.  Pectoral  fins  16,  oblong  acute. 

[II.  170]  25th  Species.  Common  Hogfish.  Etheos- 
toma  caprodes.  Etheostome  capros. 

Body  quite  cylindrical,  whitish,  with  about  twenty 
transverse  bands,  alternately  shorter.  Head  elongate 
obtuse,  upper  jaw  longer,  rounded ; opercule  angu- 
lar, spine  acute : lateral  line  quite  straight : diameter 
one  eighth  of  the  length : tail  forked,  olivaceous, 
brown  at  the  base,  and  with  a black  dot.  Vent  ante- 
rior. 

The  most  common  species,  found  in  the  Ohio, 
Cumberland,  Wabash,  Tennessee,  Green  River,  Ken- 
tucky, Licking,  Miami,  &c. ; called  almost  every 
where  Hog-fish.  Length  from  two  to  six  inches. 
Scales  rough  upwards,  hardly  ciliate.  Mouth  be- 
neath, small;  upper  jaw  protruding  like  a hog’s 
snout,  the  nostrils  being  on  it.  Eyes  above  the  eyes, 
jutting,  black,  iris  silvery.  Sides  of  the  head  sil- 
very, above  fulvous;  preopercule  simple  arched. 
Branchial  rays  half  visible.  Fins  hyalinous:  dorsal 
15  and  12,  ending  before  the  anal,  which  is  very  dis- 
tant from  the  tail,  rays  2 and  10.  Pectoral  fins  trape- 
zoidal 16.  Tail  24. 


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SECOND  PART.  ABDOMINAL  FISHES. 

Having  complete  gills,  with  a gill  cover  and  a 
branchial  membrane.  Lower  or  ventral  fins  situated 
on  the  belly  or  abdomen,  behind  the  pectoral  or 
lateral  fins. 

X.  Genus.  Goldshad.  Pomolobus.  Pomolobe. 

Body  nearly  cylindrical,  elongate,  scaly.  Vent 
posterior.  Abdomen  carinated  and  serrated  from 
the  head  to  the  vent;  but  without  plaits  or  broad 
scales.  Head  scaleless,  opercule  lobed,  with  a 
rounded  shield  above.  Jaws  without  teeth,  upper 
truncate  extensible,  lower  horizontal  and  fixed.  Ab- 
dominal fins  with  nine  rays  and  without  lateral 
appendage:  dorsal  fin  opposite. 

Out  of  eight  species  of  fishes,  similar  to  the  Her- 
rings and  Shads,  which  have  already  been  observed 
in  the  Ohio;  after  an  attentive  study,  I have  ascer- 
tained that  not  a single  one  is  a real  Herring,  nor 
belongs  to  the  genus  Clupea,  and  I have  been  com- 
pelled to  form  four  new  genera  with  them ; which 
afford  striking  characters.  The  present  one  differs 
from  the  real  ge-  [jp]  nus  Clupea  by  the  lobed  and 
shielded  opercule,  the  curious  [II.  171]  mouth,  the 
bodily  shape,  and  the  want  of  lateral  appendage.  It 
belongs  of  course,  with  the  four  following,  to  the 
family  of  Clupides.  The  name  means  lobed  oper- 
cule. 

26th  Species.  Ohio  Goldshad.  Pomolobus.  chry- 
sochloris.  Pomolobe  dore. 


90 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Greenish-gold  above,  silvery  beneath ; lateral  line 
straight : diameter  two  ninths  of  the  length : dorsal 
and  anal  fin  trapezoidal  and  with  18  rays:  tail  brown 
and  forked. 

A fine  fish  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  long. 
Flesh  esteemed,  white  and  with  less  bones  than  the 
shad.  It  is  taken  with  the  seine  and  harpoon,  as  it 
seldom  bites  at  the  hook : it  preys  however  on  some 
small  fishes.  It  seldom  goes  as  far  as  Pittsburgh, 
and  does  not  run  up  the  creeks.  At  the  falls  it  ap- 
pears in  March  and  April,  and  disappears  in  Septem- 
ber. Its  vulgar  names  are  Ohio  Shad,  Gold  Shad, 
Green  Herring,  &c. 

It  has  the  back  convex,  blue  under  the  scales. 
Sides,  belly,  and  throat  with  purple  and  violet 
shades.  Top  of  the  head  and  neck  clouded  with 
brown.  Several  sutures  on  the  sides  of  the  head. 
Upper  lip  truncate,  flexuose,  and  even  retuse;  the 
lower  obtuse  and  brown  at  the  end.  Eyes  black : 
iris  silvery  and  gilt.  Opercule  nearly  trilobe,  the 
upper  lobe  covered  by  a large  oboval  and  radiated 
shield.  Scales  large  deciduous,  lateral  line  con- 
cealed by  them.  Dorsal  fin  olivaceous,  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  back,  first  and  second  ray  shorter  and 
simple,  the  third  long,  the  others  gradually  shorter. 
Anal  fin  consimilar  but  whitish.  Pectoral  and  ab- 
dominal fins  trapezoidal,  the  lowest  ray  simple  and 
the  longest:  pectoral  15  rays.  Tail  equal  32  rays, 
brown,  tip  darker,  equal,  decurrent  on  each  side,  end 
of  the  body  truncate. 

XI.  Genus.  Gizzard.  Dorosoma.  Dorosome. 

Body  lanceolate,  compressed,  scaly.  Vent  medial. 
Abdomen  carinated,  serrated,  and  with  broad  trans- 


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versal  scales,  as  far  as  the  abdominal  fins.  Head 
scaleless,  gill  cover  triple,  opercule  simple : mouth 
diagonal  without  teeth,  lower  jaw  shorter.  Abdom- 
inal fins  with  nine  rays  and  no  appendage : dorsal 
opposite. 

It  differs  from  Clupea  and  Pomolobus,  by  the  medial 
vent,  lanceolate  body,  gill  covers,  &c.  The  name; 
means  lanceolate  body. 

[II.  172]  [40]  27th  Species.  Spotted  Gizzard, 
Dorosoma  notata.  Dorosome  tachee. 

Entirely  silvery,  a large  brown  and  round  spot 
above  the  base  of  the  lateral  line,  which  is  straight: 
two  oblong  spots  of  an  emerald  colour  above  the 
head : dorsal  fin  trapezoidal  with  1 5 rays,  anal  longi- 
tudinal with  40.  Tail  unequally  forked,  lower  lobe 
longer. 

A small  species,  seldom  reaching  over  nine  or  ten 
inches.  Diameter  anteriorly  one  fifth  of  the  length, 
tapering  gradually  towards  the  tail.  I found  it  be- 
low the  falls  of  the  Ohio  in  August.  It  comes  also 
in  the  spring  and  disappears  in  the  fall.  Vulgar 
names  Gizzard,  Hickory  Shad,  White  Shad,  &c.  It 
does  not  bite  at  the  hook.  Back  faintly  bluish. 
Mouth  large,  upper  jaw  obliqual  straight  and  longer, 
both  fixed:  tongue  long  and  smooth.  Eyes  large, 
bluish,  with  a black  centre : iris  silvery.  Scales 
small.  Pectoral  12  rays,  abdominals  immediately 
behind  them. 

XII  Genus.  Gold  Herring.  Notemigonus. 

Notemigone. 

Body  fusiform,  compressed,  scaly.  Vent  posterior. 
Abdomen  obtusely  carinated,  not  serrate:  back  simi- 
lar before  the  dorsal  fin.  Head  scaleless,  mouth. 


92 


JCHTHYOLOGIA  CH IE NS IS 


small  without  teeth,  lower  jaw  longer:  gill  cover 
double,  opercule  simple.  Abdominal  fins  with  nine 
rays  and  no  lateral  appendage.  Dorsal  fin  behind 
them  above  the  vent. 

This  genus  differs  from  Clupea  by  the  carinated 
back  and  belly,  without  serratures,  and  the  posterior 
dorsal.  The  name  means  back  half  angular.  14th 
G.  of  my  Prodr.  N.  G.  Animals. 

28th  Species.  Ohio  Gold  Herring.  Notemigonus 
•auratus.  Notemigone  dore. 

Back  gilt  olivaceous,  remainder  gilt  silvery;  fins 
yellow ; lateral  line  following  the  curve  of  the  belly : 
dorsal  with  9 rays,  anal  with  12  : tail  equally  forked. 

Length  from  four  to  eight  inches,  diameter  one 
fifth  of  the  total  length.  Iris  gilt.  Tongue  short, 
toothless.  Scales  large  radiating  with  nerves.  Head 
convex  above  and  small.  Dorsal  fin  broad  trapezoid- 
al, the  first  ray  longer.  Anal  broad  also,  but  not  so 
much.  Pectoral  small  with  16  rays..  Tail  24.  Not 
un-  [II.  173]  [4/]  common  in  the  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
Miami,  &c.  The  vulgar  names  are  Gold  Herring 
and  Yellow  Herring.  It  appears  in  the  fall.  It 
does  not  bite  at  the  hook.  Flesh  pretty  good. 

XIII  Genus.  False  Herring.  Hyodon.  Hyodon. 

Body  lanceolate  or  oblong,  compressed,  scaly. 
Vent  posterior.  Abdomen  slightly  and  obtusely 
carinated  between  the  abdominal  fins  and  the  vent. 
Head  scaleless:  mouth  toothed  all  over,  strongly  on 
the  tongue,  which  is  formed  by  the  hyodal  bone; 
lower  jaw  narrow  and  commonly  longer.  Gill  cover 
with  a preopercule.  Abdominal  fin  with  seven  rays 
and  a lateral  appendage.  Dorsal  fin  behind  them 
above  the  base  of  the  anal  fin. 


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93 


Hyodon.  Lesueur  in  Journal  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  vol.  i,  page  364, 
Sept.  1818. 

Glossodon.  Rafinesque  in  American  Monthly  Mag. 
1818. 

Amphiodon.  Rafinesque  G.  15  of  N.  G.  American 
Animals,  in  Journal  of  Natural  History  Paris  1819. 

This  genus  has  been  minutely  described  by  Mr. 
Lesueur ; yet  it  is  strange  that  he  should  have  hardly 
noticed  the  abdominal  appendages,  similar  to  those 
of  the  genera  Clupea,  Salmo,  Spams,  &c.  which  are 
very  large,  acute  flat  scaly  adipose,  and  on  the  exter- 
nal and  lateral  side  of  the  base  of  each  abdominal 
fin.  This  genus  differs  from  Clupea  and  the  fore- 
going  genera  by  its  mouth  and  teeth,  abdomen  and 
abdominal  fins;  it  approximates  also  to  Erythrinus 
and  Chirocentrus.  There  are  already  five  species 
known,  all  called  Herrings  on  the  Ohio:  they  appear 
early  in  the  spring  and  disappear  in  the  fall.  They 
live  on  small  fishes,  insects,  worms,  and  spawn : they 
often  bite  at  the  hook;  and  are  taken  in  great  quan- 
tities with  the  seines.  I have  adopted  Mr.  Lesueur ’s 
name,  although  it  is  not  without  objection,  particu- 
larly by  its  similarity  with  Diodon  in  sound;  but 
having  divided  the  genus  into  three  subgenera,  one 
of  the  names  given  to  them  might,  if  needful,  be 
adopted  as  the  proper  generic  name. 

1 st  Subgenus.  Amphiodon. 

Body  lanceolate,  lower  jaw  longer,  dorsal  fin  be- 
ginning opposite  to  the  base  of  the  anal  fin.  The 
name  means  toothed  all  over. 

[II.  174]  [4a]  29th  Species.  Toothed  False  Her- 
ring. Hyodon  amphiodon.  Do. 


94 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Amphiodon  alosoides.  Raf.  70  N.  G.  Animals.  G. 

15- 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  total  length,  body  silvery, 
back  with  bluish  gilt  shades,  head  gilt  above : lateral 
line  slightly  curved  downwards,  tail  acutely  and 
equally  forked,  bluish  brown,  base  reddish.  Dorsal 
fin  with  10  rays:  anal  fin  with  34,  ends  acute,  not 
falcated. 

Length  from  14  to  18  inches.  Jaws  with  large 
conical  acute  teeth,  similar  to  those  of  the  tongue. 
Scales  large  deciduous.  Eyes  behind  the  mouth, 
round  and  black.  Iris  silvery  gilt.  Dorsal  and  anal 
fins  with  blue  shades.  It  is  very  good  to  eat.  I 
have  observed  it  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Ohio, 
where  it  is  not  so  common  as  the  two  following 
species,  and  is  often  called  Shad,  owing  to  its  larger 
size.  Pectoral  fins  with  16  rays,  and  not  reaching 
the  abdominal  fins.  Tail  with  24  rays. 

30th  Species.  Summer  False  Herring.  Hyodon 
heterurus.  Hyodon  heterure. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length;  body  entirely 
silvery  olivaceous,  brown  above  the  head:  lateral 
line  straight  raised  upwards  at  the  base ; tail  acutely 
and  unequally  forked,  the  lower  part  longer.  Dorsal 
fin  with  12  rays,  the  anal  with  34,  not  falcated,  both 
ends  obtuse. 

Length  from  ten  to  twelve  inches,  body  very  nar- 
row and  compressed.  Jaws  with  very  small  teeth, 
the  lower  jaw  much  longer.  Eyes  over  the  corners 
of  the  mouth,  round  and  black,  iris  gilt.  Fins 
slightly  olivaceous,  the  dorsal  and  anal  have  the  two 
first  rays  simple  and  the  first  very  short,  which  pro- 
duce the  obtuse  appearance  of  those  fins.  Caudal 
with  24  rays,  pectoral  fins  with  14  rays  and  reaching 


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the  abdominal  fins.  A common  species  in  the  Ohio 
and  tributary  streams;  it  appears  later  than  the 
following,  whence  it  is  called  Summer-herring.  It 
forms  a connecting  link  between  this  and  the  follow- 
ing subgenus,  having  the  teeth  as  in  the  following 
species. 

2d  Subgenus.  Glossodon. 

Body  lanceolate,  jaws  equal  with  small  teeth,  dor- 
sal fin  opposite  to  the  vent,  nearly  medial,  beginning 
behind  the  abdominal  fins.  The  name  means  toothed 
tongue. 

[II.  175]  [yj>]  31st  Species.  Spring  False  Her- 
ring. Hyodon  vernalis.  Hyodon  printanier. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  total  length,  body  entirely 
silvery,  back  with  bluish  shades : lateral  line  straight, 
tail  equally  forked,  sinus  obtuse.  Dorsal  fin  with  13 
rays,  the  anal  with  28  rays,  falcated  and  with  acute 
ends. 

Length  from  ten  to  twelve  inches;  head  small  and 
narrow,  nostrils  very  large,  eyes  above  the  corner 
of  the  mouth,  black  and  somewhat  elliptical  verti- 
cally, iris  round,  silvery  with  gilt  shades.  Fins 
slightly  olivaceous,  the  dorsal  with  3 simple  rays, 
the  first  very  short,  anal  fin  somewhat  adipose  ante- 
riorly. Pectoral  fins  with  12  rays,  hardly  reaching 
the  abdominal  fins.  Tail  with  30  rays,  somewhat 
marginated  with  brown.  Branchial  membrane  with 
7 rays.  This  fish  begins  to  appear  all  over  the 
Ohio  and  even  at  Pittsburgh  in  April:  it  is  very 
common ; but  a poor  food,  owing  to  its  great  num- 
ber of  small  bones.  It  is  sometimes  smoked  and 
cured  as  the  Atlantic  Herrings ; but  is  not  quite 
so  good. 


96 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


3d  Subgenus.  Clodalus. 

Body  oblong  irregular  or  somewhat  rhomboidal. 
Jaws  nearly  equal,  the  lower  one  somewhat  longer 
and  with  small  teeth.  Dorsal  fin  beginning  before 
the  base  of  the  anal  fin. 

32d  Species.  May  false  Herring.  Hyodon  clo- 
dalus. Hyodon  de  May. 

H.  Clodalus.  Lesueur  Jour.  Ac.  N.  Sc.  1.  p.  377. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  total  length,  body  silvery, 
back  bluish,  lateral  line  nearly  straight,  tail  equally 
forked,  sinus  obtuse.  Dorsal  fin  with  15  rays,  the 
anal  with  30,  not  falcated,  ends  acute. 

Length  eleven  inches,  fins  yellow  with  metallic 
colours  on  the  rays,  pectbral  with  13  rays  not  reach- 
ing the  abdominal,  caudal  with  20  rays.  It  comes 
as  far  as  Pittsburgh  in  May.  Its  flesh  is  pretty  good. 
Eyes  elliptical  vertically,  brown.  Iris  golden. 

33d  Species.  Lake  False  Herring.  Hyodon 
clodalus.  '•Hyodon  lacustre. 

H.tergisus.  Lesueur  Journ.  Ac.  N.  Sc.  1.  p.  336, 
tab.  14. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  total  length,  body  silvery, 
back  blu-  [II.  176]  [yy]  ish,  gill  covers  golden:  lateral 
line  somewhat  flexuose  or  somewhat  arched  towards 
the  back:  tail  equally  forked,  sinus  obtuse.  Dorsal 
fin  with  15  rays,  anal  with  32,  falcated,  rounded 
anteriorly,  acute  behind. 

This  fish  was  observed  by  Mr.  Lesueur  in  Lake 
Erie.  Mr.  Say  thinks  he  has  seen  it  at  Pittsburgh ; 
but  I have  never  observed  it  in  the  Ohio,  and  I 
suspect  that  Mr.  Say  may  have  mistaken  the  Hyodon 
vernalis  for  this  species : in  fact  all  the  species  are 
blended  by  the  fishermen  and  considered  as  alike ; I 


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therefore  introduce  it  among  the  fishes  of  the  Ohio 
with  some  doubt.  It  has  the  same  eyes  and  colours 
as  the  foregoing.  Length  thirteen  inches.  Good 
food.  See  Mr.  Lesueur’s  minute  description. 

XIV  Genus.  Trout.  Salmo.  Truite. 

Body  somewhat  cylindrical  scaly,  vent  posterior. 
Gill  cover  double,  scaleless,  more  than  four  rays  at 
the  branchial  membrane.  Mouth  large,  jaws  with 
strong  teeth.  Two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  anterior  or 
opposed  to  the  abdominal  fins  which  have  a scaly 
appendage,  the  second  adipose  and  opposed  to  the 
anal  fin. 

This  Linnean  genus  which  includes  the  Trouts  and 
Salmono  is  confined  to  the  head  waters  and  brooks  of 
the  Ohio.  1 only  know  two  species  as  yet ; but  there 
may  be  more  in  the  small  streams  of  Ohio,  the  Cum- 
berland and  Clinch  mountains,  &c.  The  white  fish 
of  Lake  Erie,  Coregonus  albns  of  Lesueur,  (or  Salmo 
clupeformis  of  Dr.  Mitchell,)  a fish  which  differs  from 
the  Trouts  by  being  toothless,  and  is  therefore  a real 
Coregonus,  is  said  to  be  found  in  some  streams  of  Indi- 
ana, at  the  head  of  the  Wabash  and  Miami;  but  I 
have  no  certain  proof  of  it.  Other  Trouts  have  been 
seen  in  the  Osage  river  and  other  streams  putting 
into  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi. 

34th  Species.  Alleghany  Trout.  Salmo  Alle- 
ganiensis.  Truite  alleganienne. 

Back  brownish,  sides  pale  with  crowded  round  ful- 
vous spots,  and  some  scattered  scarlet  dots  above  and 
beneath  the  lateral  line,  which  is  nearly  straight : 
lower  jaw  hardly  longer,  tail  reddish  nearly  lunu- 
late,  dorsal  fin  quadrangular  with  brown  stripes, 
[II.  177]  [45]  and  ten  rays:  anal  fin  lanceolate  whitish, 


98 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


with  a longitudinal  line  black  anteriorly  and  red  poste- 
riorly. 

It  is  found  in  the  brooks  of  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains falling  into  the  Alleghany  and  Monongahela. 
It  has  the  manner  of  the  small  Brook-trouts,  and  is 
called  Mountain-trout,  Creek-trout,  &c.  It  is  easily 
caught  with  the  hook,  baited  with  earth-worms,  and 
they  may  be  easily  enticed  by  rubbing  the  bait  and 
hook  with  asafoetida  like  many  other  fishes.  They 
afford  a very  good  food.  Length  about  8 inches. 
Head  olivaceous  with  violet  shades.  Iris  brown. 
Dorsal  fin  rufous  with  brown  lines  parallel  with  the 
back.  Pectoral  fins  oval,  not  reaching  the  base  of 
the  dorsal  nor  abdominal  fins,  redish  below,  whitish 
above,  with  a brown  line.  Abdominal  fins  with  nine 
rays  and  similar  to  the  pectoral  fins  in  colour,  scaly 
appendage  very  small.  Tail  with  brown  shades. 
Adipose  fin  acute.  Diameter  of  the  body  one  sixth 
of  the  total  length.  I have  seen  some  individuals 
(they  may  be  the  female  or  a variety)  who  were  of  a 
paler  colour,  with  fewer  and  smaller  scarlet  dots; 
they  had  the  yellowish  spots  more  crowded,  the  fins 
darker  and  the  tail  pale. 

[II.  235]  35th  Species.  Black  Trout.  Salmo 
nigrescens.  Truite  noiratre. 

Body  blackish  brown,  with  some  small  spots,  head 
black;  lateral  line  straight:  lower  jaw  hardly  longer; 
fins  and  tail  black,  tail  slightly  forked.  Dorsal  fin 
with  10  rays,  anal  fin  with  15  rays. 

A very  rare  species,  seen  only  once,  near  the  Lau- 
rel hills;  it  is  said  to  be  found  also  in  the  Yoho- 
gheny,  a branch  of  the  Monongahela.  Length  six 
inches,  diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length.  Iris  black 
and  gilt.  Slightly  pale  under  the  body. 


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XV.  Genus.  Minny.  Minnilus.  Minny. 

Body  elongated,  somewhat  compressed,  covered 
with  small  scales.  Vent  medial.  Head  flat  above, 
and  somewhat  shielded.  Gill  cover  double,  scale- 
less, three  branchial  rays.  Mouth  diagonal,  small, 
toothless  and  beardless,  without  lips,  lower  jaw 
shorter  and  narrower.  A small  trapezoidal  dorsal 
fin,  nearer  to  the  head  than  to  the  tail,  opposite  to 
the  abdominal  fins,  and  without  spines.  Abdominal 
fins  with  eight  rays  and  without  appendages.  (Tail 
forked  in  all  the  Ohio  species.) 

[^d]  There  are  in  the  United  States  more  than  fifty 
species  of  small  fresh  water  fishes,  (and  in  the  Ohio 
waters  more  than  sixteen  species)  commonly  called 
Minnies,  Minnews,  Bait-fish,  Chubs,  and  Shiners, 
which  should  belong  to  the  genus  Cyprimis  of  Lin- 
neus,  or  rather  to  the  part  of  it  which  has  been  called 
Leuciscus  by  Klein  and  Cuvier;  which  subgenus  (or 
genus)  is  distinguished  by  a small  dorsal  fin,  no 
spines  nor  beards;  but  as  the  genus  Cyprinus  forms 
now  a large  family,  and  that  even  the  genus  Leuciscus 
must  be  divided,  since  it  contains  more  than  one 
hundred  anomalous  species,  differing  in  the  position 
of  the  dorsal  fin  and  the  vent,  the  number  of  rays  to 
the  abdominal  fins,  &c.,  I venture  to  propose  this  and 
the  three  following  genera.  Three  other  different 
genera  might  be  es-  [II.  236]  tablished  upon  the 
European  species,  distinguished  as  follow: 

Dobula.  Dorsal  fin  nearer  to  the  tail,  abdominal 
fins  with  nine  rays  and  an  appendage:  upper  jaw 
longer. 

Phoxinus.  Differs  by  ten  abdominal  rays  and  no 
appendage. 


100 


ICHTHYOLOG1A  OHIENSIS 


Alburnns.  Differs  from  Dobula  by  no  appendage 
and  the  lower  jaw  longer. 

Besides  my  genus  Hemiplus,  (Annals  of  nature,) 
which  has  the  vent  posterior,  the  lower  jaw  longer, 
only  five  rays  and  an  appendage  to  the  abdominal  fins. 

All  these  small  fish  are  permanent;  they  feed  on 
worms,  insects,  univalve  shells,  and  spawn;  they 
bite  at  a small  hook,  baited  with  worms  or  flies,  and 
they  form  an  excellent  bait  for  all  the  larger  fish 
which  feed  upon  them.  They  are  good  to  eat  when 
fried. 

36th  Species.  Slender  Minny.  Minulus  dinemus. 
Minny  emeraude. 

Diameter  one  eighth  of  total  length,  silvery,  back 
olivaceous  with  a brown  longitudinal  stripe  in  the 
middle : two  lateral  lines,  one  straight,  the  lower 
curved  downwards  and  shorter : head  gilt  and  green 
above.  Dorsal  fin  9 rays.  Anal  fin  12  rays. 

A small  and  slender  species,  common  in  the  Ohio, 
&c.  and  going  in  flocks;  length  two  or  three  inches. 
Its  head  is  beautiful  when  alive : it  is  above  of  a fine 
gold  colour  with  green  shades,  becoming  of  an  eme- 
rald green  above  the  eyes.  Iris  silvery:  sides 
opaque,  upper  lateral  line  gold-green.  Nostrils  [47] 
large.  Pectoral  fins  with  12  rays,  not  reaching  the 
abdominal.  All  the  fins  silvery.  Tail  with  24  rays. 
Scales  very  small. 

37th  Species.  Spotted  Minny.  Minnilus  notatus. 
Minny  tache. 

Diameter  one  seventh  of  total  length,  silvery,  back 
olivaceous  with  a large  brown  stripe  in  the  middle ; 
head  brown  above,  lateral  line  straight,  a black  spot 
at  the  base  of  the  tail.  Dorsal  with  8,  and  anal  with 
9 rays. 


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101 


Same  size  with  the  preceding-,  but  not  so  slender 
and  less  common.  Iris  golden,  nostrils  very  large, 
mouth  small,  lateral  line  shining  blue  on  the  opaque 
sides.  Pectoral  fins  with  12  rays  and  not  reaching 
the  abdomen.  Tail  with  14  rays.  It  is  often  called 
Minny-chub. 

[II.  237]  38th  Species.  Littlemouthed  minny. 
Minnilus  microstomus.  Minny  microstome. 

Diameter  one  seventh  of  total  length,  silvery, 
olivaceous  on  the  back  and  head,  sides  with  a few 
black  dots : lateral  line  straight,  pectoral  fins  reach- 
ing the  abdominal  fins.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  with 
eight  rays. 

A small  species  found  in  the  Kentucky  river. 
Mouth  very  small,  nostrils  large,  iris  silvery,  fins 
fulvous,  the  pectoral  with  12,  and  the  caudal  with  24 
rays.  Head  elongated. 

XVI  Genus.  Shiner.  Luxilus.  Luxile. 

Difference  from  M innidus.  Vent  posterior  or  nearer 
to  the  tail.  Mouth  rather  large,  commonly  with  lips 
and  equal  jaws.  Scales  rather  large.  Preopercule 
with  an  angular  suture. 

1st  Subgenus.  Chrosomus. 

Mouth  large,  without  lips,  lower  jaw  much  shorter.- 
Scales  rough.  Opercule  flexuose. 

39th  Species.  Redbelly  Shiner.  Luxilus  ery- 
throgaster.  Luxile  erythrogastre. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  total  length:  back  oliva- 
ceous brown,  sides  pale  with  two  brown  stripes,  the 
upper  reaching  from  the  gills fto  the  tail,  and  the 
lower  from  the  nose  to  the  anal  fin ; belly  white  with 
longitudinal  red  stripes  from  the  pectoral  fin  to  the 


102 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


tail : lateral  line  curved  downwards  and  only  anterior. 
Dorsal  and  anal  fins  elongated.  Dorsal  8,  and  anal  7 
rays. 

A very  distinct  and  insulated  species,  intermediate 
between  [4.8]  this  and  the  foregoing  genus.  It  might 
probably  form  a peculiar  genus  and  be  called  Chro- 
somus  erythrogaster  or  Kentucky  Red  belly.  I saw  it 
in  the  Kentucky  river.  Length  from  four  to  six 
inches.  Tail  forked  as  in  all  this  family,  and  yellow 
as  well  as  the  dorsal  fin,  and  with  twenty  rays.  All 
the  other  fins  are  whitish.  Head  yellow  above,  sil- 
very beneath,  iris  golden,  the  brown  stripe  goes 
across  the  eyes.  Pectoral  fins  trapezoidal,  with  12 
rays,  not  reaching  the  abdominal  fins.  Lateral  line 
reaching  no  farther  than  the  dorsal  fin.  Anal  fin 
narrow.  It  is  called  Red  belly  Chub. 

2d  Subgenus.  Luxilus. 

Mouth  rather  large,  with  small  flat  lips,  jaws  equal, 
scales  large. 

[II.  238]  40th  Species.  Goldhead  Shiner.  Luxi- 
lus chrysocephalus.  Luxile  chrysocephale. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length,  silvery  with 
golden  shades  on  the  sides,  head  gilt,  back  and  nape 
dark  olivaceous ; lateral  line  curved  downwards,  pec- 
toral fins  reaching  the  abdominal.  Dorsal  and  anal 
fins  with  nine  rays. 

Vulgar  names,  Gold  Chub,  Shiner,  Goldhead,  &c. 
Length  six  inches.  It  is  found  in  the  Kentucky, 
Ohio,  Cumberland,  Green  river,  &c.  Iris  golden. 
Fins  fulvous,  the  pectoral  golden  large  with  14  rays: 
tail  with  24.  It  resembles  the  common  Shiner 
or  Butterfish  of  Pennsylvania,  Cyprinus  chrysoleucos 
Mitchell ; but  that  fish  is  a Rutilus,  having  nine 


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103 


abdominal  rays,  its  body  is  besides  shorter  and  the 
anal  fin  is  falcated  with  15  rays. 

41st  Species.  Kentuckian  Shiner.  Luxilus  Ken- 
tuckiensis.  Luxile  du  Kentuky. 

Diameter  one  seventh  of  total  length,  silvery,  back 
olivaceous,  lateral  line  curved  downwards,  dorsal  and 
caudal  fins  red,  the  pectoral  yellow,  not  reaching  the 
abdomen.  Dorsal  8,  and  anal  7 rays. 

Vulgar  names,  Indian  Chub,  Red  tail,  Shiner,  &c. 
Length  about  four  inches.  It  is  reckoned  an  excellent 
bait  for  anglers,  because  it  will  swim  a long  while  with 
the  hook  in  its  body.  Eyes  small,  iris  brown  with  a 
gold  ring.  Yellowish  brown  a-  [49]  bove  the  head. 
Abdominal  and  anal  fins  white.  Pectoral  and  abdom- 
inal fins  oboval,  with  12  rays.  Tail  with  24  rays. 

42d  Species.  Yellow  Shiner.  Luxilus  interrup- 
tus.  Luxile  jaunatre. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  total  length : yellowish 
olivaceous  above,  silvery  beneath,  rufous  brown  above 
the  head,  a rufous  line  from  the  dorsal  to  the  tail, 
two  straight  and  separated  half  lateral  lines,  the  ante- 
rior one  above  the  posterior:  pectoral  fins  reaching 
the  abdominal.  Dorsal  with  10  and  anal  with  9 rays. 

A small  species,  only  three  inches  long,  called 
Yellow  Chub  or  Shiner.  Seen  in  the  Ohio.  Sides 
opaque,  with  violet  shades.  Iris  silvery,  mouth 
large,  lips  very  apparent.  Fins  yellowish,  pectorals 
with  16  rays,  caudals  with  24. 

[II.  239]  XVII  Genus.  Chubby.  Semotilus. 

Semotile. 

Difference  from  Minnilus.  Vent  posterior  or  nearer 
to  the  tail.  Dorsal  fin  posterior,  opposite  to  the  vent 
and  behind  the  abdominal  fins.  Mouth  large  and 
with  lips.  Scales  rather  large.  Preopercule  angular^ 


104 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


43d  Species.  Bigback  Chubby.  Semotilus  dorsalis. 
Semotile  dorsal. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length:  silvery,  back 
olivaceous  with  some  black  dots,  and  raised;  head 
brown  above,  a crenulated  keel  above  each  eye : lat- 
eral line  upwards  at  the  base:  tail  brown,  with  a 
black  spot  at  the  base  and  another  before  it.  Dorsal 
fin  with  8 rays  and  a large  brown  spot  at  the  anterior 
base.  Anal  fin  with  9 rays. 

It  is  found  in  the  Kentucky,  and  several  other  riv- 
ers. Vulgar  names,  Big-back  Minny  or  Chub,  Skim- 
back,  &c.  Length  from  three  to  six  inches.  Iris 
gilt  brown.  Fins  olivaceous,  pectoral  fins  with  12 
rays,  trapezoidal  not  reaching  the  abdominal.  Tail 
with  24  rays,  end  pale,  base  with  a round  black  dot, 
and  a smaller  one  before  it  on  the  body,  when  the 
lateral  line  terminates.  Head  separated  from  the 
back  by  a suture  connected  with  the  opercule,  back 
large  convex  higher. 

44th  Species.  Bighead  Chubby.  Senotilus  cepha- 
lus.  Senotile  cephale. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  total  length:  silvery, 
back  brownish,  lateral  line  raised  upwards  at  the 
base;  fins  fulvous,  the  pecto-  [50]  ral  reddish,  the 
caudal  pale  at  the  end  and  unspotted,  the  dorsal  with 
nine  rays  and  a large  black  spot  at  the  anterior  base, 
anal  with  nine  rays. 

Length  from  six  to  eight  inches,  not  uncommon 
in  the  creeks  of  Kentucky,  &c.  Vulgar  names  Chub, 
Big-mouth,  and  Big-head.  It  has  really  the  largest 
head  and  mouth  of  this  tribe.  Iris  redish  iridescent. 
Pectoral  fins  with  15  rays  trapezoidal  and  short, 
abdominal  fins  rounded,  dorsal  fin  beginning  over 
them,  spot  round.  Tail  with  20  rays. 


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105 


45th  Species.  Warty  Chubby.  Semotilus  diplemia. 
Semotile  verruqueux. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  total  length : olivaceous 
brown  with  gold  shades  above,  silvery  beneath : lat- 
eral line  double,  the  an-  [II.  240]  terior  and  lower 
curved  upwards  at  the  base,  reaching  to  the  abdomi- 
nal fins,  the  posterior  and  upper  straight  from  the 
pectoral  fins  to  the  tail : fins  red,  a spot  at  the  base 
of  the  dorsal  and  caudal,  and  many  dots  over  them. 
Dorsal  with  nine  rays;  the  anal  with  eight. 

Length  from  three  to  four  inches,  often  called 
Minny  or  Red-fin.  Observed  in  the  Kentucky  river 
near  Estill.  The  male  fish  has  a larger  mouth  than 
the  female  and  some  black  warts  on  the  head.  Ful- 
vous brown  on  the  head.  Iris  large,  golden,  and 
white.  Some  black  dots  on  the  dorsal  and  caudal 
fins:  the  caudal  spot  is  on  the  tail,  and  the  dorsal  at 
the  anterior  base;  they  are  small  and  round.  The 
pectoral  fins  do  not , reach  the  abdominal  fins;  they 
have  18  rays:  the  tail  has  24. 

XVIII  Genus.  Fallfish.  Rutilus.  Rutile. 

Difference  from  Minnilus.  Vent  posterior  nearer 
to  the  tail.  Abdominal  fins  with  nine  rays.  Mouth 
large  and  with  lips.  Scales  large. 

I call  this  genus  Rutilus , in  the  supposition  that 
Cyprinus  rutilus  may  be  the  type  of  it ; if  it  should 
be  otherwise,  it  may  be  called  Plargyriis. 

46th  Species.  Silverside  Fallfish.  Rutilus 
plar gyrus.  Rutile  plargyre. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length : silvery,  back 
with  the  dorsal,  pectoral,  and  caudal  fins  olivaceous: 
lateral  line  curved  [5/]  downwards : snout  truncate, 


106 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


mouth  almost  vertical.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  with 
nine  rays. 

Length  from  four  to  six  inches:  vuglar  names, 
Silverside,  Shiner,  White  Chub,  &c.  Common  in 
the  streams  of  Kentucky.  Mouth  large,  upper  jaw 
almost  vertical,  yet  longer  than  the  lower.  Iris 
white.  Pectoral  fins  with  14  rays,  reaching  almost 
the  abdominals,  which  are  oboval  and  white.  Tail 
forked  as  usual  with  24  rays.  Scales  large. 

47th  Species.  Baiting  Fallfish.  Rutilus  com- 
pressus.  Rutile  appat. 

Diameter  one  seventh  of  total  length : silvery,  back 
fulvous,  sides  compressed,  lateral  line  straight, 
raised  upwards  at  the  base,  snout  rounded,  mouth 
hardly  diagonal,  nearly  horizontal.  Dorsal  and  anal 
fins  with  nine  rays. 

[II.  241]  A small  fish  from  two  to  four  inches  long, 
called  Fall-fish  Bait-fish,  Minny,  &c.  It  is  found 
in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  in  the  waters  of  the 
Monongahela,  Kenhaway,  and  even  in  the  Potomac. 
The  name  of  Fall-fish  arises  from  its  being  often 
found  near  falls  and  ripples.  Body  more  compressed 
than  in  the  other  species,  as  much  so  as  in  the  genus 
Minnilus.  Scales  large,  lips  a little  fleshy.  Iris  sil- 
very gilt.  Fins  transparent,  the  pectoral  with  14  rays 
and  not  reaching  the  abdominal,  tail  with  32  rays. 

48th  Species.  Roundnose  Fallfish.  Rutilus  Am- 
blops.  Rutile  amblopse. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  total  length : silvery,  head 
fulvous  above,  snout  round:  sides  with  an  opaque 
band,  lateral  line  straight:  pectoral  fins  with  12  rays 
and  reaching  the  abdominal  fins.  Dorsal  and  anal 
fins  with  10  rays. 

Length  one  or  two  inches.  Vulgar  name  White 


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107 


Chub  or  Fall-fish.  It  is  found  at  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio.  Back  slightly  fulvescent,  snout  large  and 
rounded,  mouth  hardly  diagonal,  eyes  large,  iris  sil- 
very, and  scales  large.  Tail  with  30  rays. 

49th  Species.  Blacktail  Fallfish.  Rutilus  mela- 
nuras.  Rutile  melanure. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  total  length : silvery,  back 
brownish:  snout  rounded,  lateral  line  straight,  tail 
blackish.  Dorsal  fin  with  15  rays,  anal  with  12. 

[5a]  Length  from  four  to  six  inches.  Vulgar 
name  Blacktail  Chub.  In  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum, 
&c.  Head  dark  brown  above,  Mouth  diagonal,  iris 
silvery.  Scales  pretty  large.  Fins  brownish,  the 
lower  ones  pale,  the  pectoral  short  with  12  rays. 
Tail  with  20  rays. 

50th  Species.  Anomal  Fallfish.  Rutilus  anoma- 
lous. Rutile  anomal. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  total  length,  fulvous  above, 
sides  dusky,  white  beneath : snout  rounded,  a verti- 
cal brown  line  behind  the  gills ; lateral  line  straight 
raised  upwards  at  the  base : pectoral  fins  yellow  ob- 
oval  short  with  1 5 rays : tail  unequally  bilobed,  the 
upper  lobe  larger.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  red,  dorsal 
8 and  anal  7 rays. 

An  anomalous  fish,  differing  from  all  those  of  the 
Cyprinian  [II.  242]  tribe  in  the  Ohio,  by  its  unequal 
bilobed  tail,  which  is  brownish  and  has  22  rays. 
Mouth  diagonal.  Eyes  small,  iris  olivaceous  gilt. 
Nape  of  the  neck  red,  scales  rather  small.  Length 
three  inches.  Found  in  Licking  river  &c.  Vulgar 
names  Chub,  Redfish,  Fallfish,  &c. 

51st  Species.  Red  Minny.  Rutilus  ruber.  Rutile 
rouge. 

Entirely  red,  tail  forked. 


108 


ICHTH  YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


I add  here  a fine  small  fish,  which  I have  never 
seen  as  yet,  but  is  said  to  live  in  the  small  streams 
which  fall  into  the  Elkhorn  and  Kentucky.  It  is  a 
slender  fish,  only  two  inches  long,  compressed  and 
of  a fine  purple  red.  It  may  belong  to  this  genus, 
or  to  any  other  of  this  tribe.  It  is  commonly  called 
Red-minny. 

XIX  Genus.  Flat-head.  Pimephales.  Pimephale. 

Body  oblong,  thick,  and  scaly.  Vent  posterior 
nearer  to  the  tail.  Head  scaleless,  fleshy  all  over, 
even  over  the  gill  covers,  rounded,  convex  above  and 
short.  Mouth  terminal  small,  toothless,  with  hard 
cartilagineous  lips.  Opercule  double,  three  branchial 
rays.  Nostrils  simple.  Dorsal  fin  opposite  the  ab- 
dominals, with  the  first  ray  simple  and  cartilaginous. 
Abdominal  fins  with  eight  rays. 

A singular  new  genus,  which  differs  from  Catasto- 
mus  by  the  terminal  mouth,  hard  lips,  soft  head, 
simple  dorsal  ray,  &c.  The  name  is  abbreviated 
from  Pimelecephales  which  means  Flat-head. 

[II.  299]  [yj]  53d  Species.  Blackheaded  Flat- 
head.  Pimephales  promelas.  Pimephale  tete-noire. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  the  length,  body  oliva- 
ceous silvery,  head  blackish,  snout  truncated,  and 
with  soft  warts:  fins  whitish,  dorsal  with  a large 
irregular  black  spot  at  the  anterior  base,  with  eight 
forked  rays,  and  one  simple  shorter  obtuse  hard: 
anal  with  eight  rays ; lateral  line  flexuose  and  raised 
at  the  base,  tail  lunulate. 

A small  fish  three  inches  long.  It  is  rare  and 
hardly  known  by  the  anglers.  I describe  it  from  a 
specimen  taken  with  a hook  baited  with  earth-worm, 
by  Mr.  William  M.  Clifford,  in  a pond  near  Lexing- 


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109 


ton,  in  the  month  of  April  1820,  and  now  preserved 
in  the  Museum  in  Lexington.  Its  head  is  very- 
remarkable,  soft  and  fat  all  over,  the  snout  sloping, 
broad,  truncate  with  soft  warts  in  front,  mouth  at  its 
inferior  extremity  very  small,  elliptical  transversal, 
with  equal  circular  hard  lips.  The  whole  head  and 
even  the  eyes  are  of  dusky  and  bluish  black  colour. 
Pectoral  fins  trapezoidal  with  1 5 rays,  the  upper  rays 
of  the  colour  of  the  head.  Tail  olivaceous  lunu- 
lated,  with  20  forked  rays  and  5 short  simple  rays  on 
each  side  of  the  base.  Abdominal  fins  quadrangu- 
lar. The  first  ray  of  the  dorsal  is  singular,  thick, 
short,  hard,  and  yet  blunt,  almost  cartilaginous,  or 
not  properly  spinous,  and  not  at  all  serrate  as  in  the 
Carps.  Scales  pretty  large. 

XX  Genus.  Sucker.  Catostomus.  Catostome. 

Body  oblong  cylindrical  scaly.  Vent  posterior  or 
nearer  to  the  tail.  Head  and  opercules  scaleless  and 
smooth.  Mouth  beneath  the  snout,  with  fleshy, 
thick,  or  lobed  sucking  lips.  Jaws  toothless  and 
retractible.  Throat  with  pectinated  teeth.  Nostrils 
double.  Gill-cover  double  or  triple.  Three  bran- 
chial rays  to  the  gill  membrane.  A single  dorsal  fin 
commonly  opposite  to  the  abdominal  fins,  which 
have  from  eight  to  ten  rays. 

[II.  300]  Lesueur  has  established  this  genus,  in 
the  first  volume  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  with  all  the  Ameri- 
can species  of  the  genus  Cyprinus  which  have  the 
above  characters,  and  he  has  described  eighteen 
species  belonging  to  it.  I have  discovered  twelve 
additional  new  species  in  the  waters  of  the  Ohio, 
where  about  sixteen  new  spe-  [yy]  cies  have  already 


110 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


been  detected.  This  genus  having  become  so  ex- 
tensive at  an  early  period,  and  many  other  species 
existing  probably  in  North  America  and  Siberia,  I 
have  therefore  divided  it  into  five  subgenera,  employ- 
ing principally  the  number  of  abdominal  rays.  All 
these  fishes  are  permanent  in  the  Ohio  its  branches 
and  the  ponds.  Some  however  disappear  in  winter, 
retreating  into  deep  water  or  into  the  mud.  Many  bite 
at  the  hook.  They  feed  on  univalve  shells,  small 
fishes  and  spawn.  They  offer  a tolerable  food. 

ist.  Subgenus.  Moxostoma. 

Body  oblong,  compressed ; head  compressed,  eight 
abdominal  rays,  dorsal  fin  commonly  longitudinal, 
tail  commonly  unequally  forked. 

53d  Species.  Ohio  Carp  Sucker.  Catostomus 
anisurus.  Catostome  anisure. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  length : silvery,  slightly 
fulvescent  above,  fins  red,  the  dorsal  olivaceous  fal- 
cated with  17  rays,  nearer  to  the  head  and  reaching 
the  vent:  lateral  line  curved  upwards  and  flexuose 
at  the  base.-  snout  gibbose:  tail  forked,  upper  part 
longer.  Anal  fin  falcate  with  eight  rays. 

A large  species  common  all  over  the  Ohio  and  the 
large  streams,  as  far  as  Pittsburgh.  Permanent  and 
sometimes  taken  in  winter.  It  is  called  Carp  every 
where.  Length  from  one  to  three  feet.  It  is  taken 
with  the  hook,  seine,  and  dart.  Its  flesh  is  pretty 
good,  but  soft.  The  male  fish  has  a red  tail ; while 
it  is  olivaceous  in  the  female.  Snout  divided  from 
the  head  by  a transverse  hollow  which  makes  it  gib- 
bose. Eyes  black,  iris  silvery  and  golden  above. 
Sides  often  with  copper  shades.  Scales  large  with 
concentric  stria.  Pectoral  fins  large  oval  acute  with 


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111 


15  rays  and  reaching  the  abdominal  fins.  Caudal 
with  24  rays. 

[II.  299  i.e.,  301]  54th  Species.  Buffalo  Carp 
Sucker.  Cotostomus  anisopturus.  Catostome  anisop- 
ture. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  the  total  length : silvery : 
head  sloping,  lateral  line  curved  as  the  back : tail 
unequally  bifid,  upper  part  much  longer : dorsal  fin 
longitudinal,  beginning  above  the  pectorals  and 
reaching  the  end  of  the  anal,  sinuated  by  a double 
falcation,  first  ray  very  long. 

[55]  A singular  species  which  I have  never  seen. 
I describe  it  from  a drawing  of  Mr.  Audubon.  It  is 
found  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Ohio,  and  is  called 
Buffalo  Carp,  Buffalo  perch,  Buffalo  Sucker,  White 
Buffalo-fish,  &c.  Length  about  one  foot.  Very  good 
to  eat.  Taken  with  the  seine  in  the  spring  only. 
Body  broad,  dorsal  fin  broad  and  large,  remarkable 
by  its  shape  like  a double  sickle,  and  first  ray  which 
reaches  the  tail.  Anal  fin  small  and  falcate.  Pecto- 
ral fins  reaching  the  abdominal  fins.  The  number 
of  abdominal  rays  was  not  observed,  if  it  should  have 
nine  it  would  be  nearer  to  C.  Velifer  and  C.  setosus, 
or  it  may  form  a peculiar  subgenus. 

The  C.  tuberculatus  of  Lesueur  belongs  also  to  this 
subgenus,  having  eight  abdominal  rays ; but  its  tail 
is  regularly  bifid. 

2d  Subgenus.  Ictiorus. 

Body  nearly  cylindrical.  Dorsal  fin  elongated, 
abdominal  fins  with  nine  rays,  tail  bilobed,  com- 
monly equal. 

The  C.  gibbosus  and  C.  Communis , of  Lesueur, 
appear  to  be  intermediate  between  this  subgenus  and 


112 


ICHTHYOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


the  foregoing,  having  nine  abdominal  rays,  but  an 
unequal  bilobed  tail. 

55th  Species.  Brown  Buffalo-fish.  Catostomus 
bubalus.  Catostome  bubale. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  total  length ; olivaceous 
brown,  pale  beneath,  fins  blackish,  pectoral  fins 
brown  and  short:  head  sloping,  snout  rounded, 
cheeks  whitish : lateral  line  straight,  dorsal  fin  nar- 
row with  28  equal  rays,  anal  trapezoidal  with  12  rays. 

One  of  the  finest  fishes  of  the  Ohio,  common  also 
in  the  Mississippi,  Missouri,  and  their  tributary 
streams.  It  is  called  every  where  Buffalo-fish,  and 
Piconeau,  by  the  French  settlers  of  Louisiana.  I 
had  called  it  Amblodon  bubalus  in  my  70  N.  G.  of 
American  Animals,  having  been  misled  by  the  com- 
mon mistake  which  ascribed  to  it  the  teeth  of  the 
Amblodon  grunni-  [II.  400,  i.e.,  302]  ens;  but  it  is  a real 
Catostomus , without  any  such  teeth.  Length  from 
two  to  three  feet;  some  have  been  taken  weighing 
thirty  pounds  and  upwards.  It  is  commonly  taken 
with  the  dart  at  night  when  asleep,  or  in  the  seine; 
it  does  not  readily  bite  at  the  hook.  It  feeds  on 
smaller  fishes  and  shells,  and  often  goes  in  shoals. 
It  retires  into  deep  water  in  the  winter,  yet  is  some- 
times taken  even  then.  It  comes  as  far  as  Pittsburgh. 
Its  flesh  [y<5]  is  pretty  good  but  soft.  Scales  rather 
large.  Tail  with  24  rays  and  two  equal  rounded 
lobes.  Iris  gilt  brown,  eyes  small.  Pectoral  fins 
with  16  rays.  Dorsal  fins  shallow  and  even  begin- 
ning just  before  the  abdominal  fins,  and  ending  at 
the  base  of  the  anal  fin. 

56th  Species.  Black  Buffalo-fish.  Catostomus 
niger.  Catostome  noir. 

Entirely  black,  lateral  line  straight. 


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113 


I have  not  seen  this  fish.  Mr.  Audubon  describes 
it  as  a peculiar  species,  found  in  the  Mississippi  and 
the  lower  part  of  the  Ohio,  being  entirely  similar  to 
the  common  Buffalo-fish,  but  larger,  weighing  some- 
times upwards  of  fifty  pounds,  and  living  in  separate 
shoals. 


3d  Subgenus.  Carpiodes. 

Body  oblong,  somewhat  compressed;  head  com- 
pressed, nine  abdominal  rays,  dorsal  fin  commonly 
elongate,  tail  equally  forked. 

The  C.  cyprinus  and  C.  setosus,  of  Lesueur,  belong 
to  this  Subgenus. 

57th  Species.  Olive  Carp  Sucker.  Catostomus 
carpio.  Catostome  carpe. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  the  length:  olivaceous 
above,  pale  beneath,  chin  white,  abdomen  bluish : 
lateral  line  straight,  dorsal  fin  somewhat  falcated 
with  36  rays,  anal  trapezoidal  with  10  rays;  head 
sloping,  snout  rounded. 

Seen  at  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  commonly  called 
Carp.  Length  from  one  to  two  feet.  Eyes  very 
small  and  black,  fins  olivaceous  brown,  the  pectorals 
olivaceous,  trapezoidal  short  and  with  16  rays.  Tail 
with  24.  Dorsal  fin  beginning  before  the  abdominal 
and  reaching  the  end  of  the  anal  fin.  Not  so  good 
to  eat  as  the  Buffalo-fish. 

[II.  301  i.e.,  303]  58th  Species.  Sailing  Sucker. 
Catostomus  velifer.  Catostome  volant. 

Diameter  less  than  one  fourth  of  the  length:  body 
elliptical,  silvery  with  golden  shades,  lateral  line 
flexuose,  dorsal  fin  very  broad  falcated  with  25  rays, 
the  first  ones  very  long,  anal  fin  trapezoidal  lunulate 
with  10  rays:  head  sloping,  snout  rounded. 


114 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OH I EN SIS 


Catostomous  anonymous  Lesueur  in  Journ.  Ac.  Nat. 
Sc.  of  Philadelphia,  Vol.  i,  page  no. 

[57]  A singular  fish,  not  very  common,  yet  found 
as  far  as  Pittsburgh.  It  has  received  the  vulgar  names 
of  Sailor  fish,  Flying  fish,  and  Skimback,  because, 
when  it  swims,  its  large  dorsal  fin  appears  like  a sail, 
and  it  often  jumps  or  flies  over  the  water  for  a short 
distance.  Length  commonly  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
inches,  of  which  the  tail,  which  is  very  large,  includes 
one  fourth,  and  has  24  rays.  Back  slightly  oliva- 
ceous, scales  very  large.  Fins  olivaceous  brown, 
except  the  abdominal  and  pectoral,  which  are  white. 
The  dorsal  beginning  before  the  abdominal  and  reach- 
ing the  end  of  the  anal,  the  second  and  third  rays 
are  one  third  of  the  whole  body,  the  first  is  short 
and  cleaving  to  the  second;  mouth  small,  quite  ter- 
minal at  the  lower  end  of  the  rounded  snout;  head 
small,  convex  above.  Pectoral  fins  with  16  rays. 
Not  very  good  to  eat.  Seen  only  in  summer. 

59th  Species.  Mud  Sucker.  Catostomus xanthopus. 
Catostome  xanthope. 

Diameter  one  fourth  of  the  length : lateral  line 
straight:  silvery,  back  olivaceous,  head  brown  above, 
snout  gibbose  rounded : dorsal  fin  hardly  falcate  with 
14  rays,  anal  lanceolate  with  8 rays:  lower  fins 
yellowish.  ( 

Found  below  the  falls.  Length  from  six  to  ten 
inches.  It  lives  in  muddy  banks,  and  conceals  itself 
in  the  mud.  Flesh  very  soft.  Head  large,  flattened 
above,  mouth  large,  eyes  large.  Iris  silvery.  Lat- 
eral line  hardly  raised  at  the  base.  Dorsal  fin  above 
the  abdominal,  fins  olivaceous  as  well  as  the  tail, 
which  has  20  rays.  Pectorals  with  18  rays.  Scales 
large. 


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115 


4th  Subgenus.  Teretulus. 

Body  elongate  cylindrical  or  somewhat  quadrangu- 
lar, nine  abdominal  rays,  dorsal  fins  commonly  small, 
tail  equally  forked. 

An  extensive  Subgenus  to  which  belong  all  the 
following  [II.  302  i.e.,  304]  species  of  Lesueur:  C. 
aureolus , C.  macrolepidotus , C.  longirostrum. , C.  nigri- 
cans,, C.  vittatns,  C.  maculosus,  C.  Sucetta,  besides  the 
C.  teres  and  C.  oblongus  of  Mitchell. 

60th  Species,  Black-face  Sucker.  Cotostomus 
melanops.  Catostome  melanopse. 

Diameter  one  seventh  of  the  length : head  squared, 
blackish  above,  snout  convex  obtuse;  back  oliva- 
ceous, sides  whitish  with  scattered  black  dots,  a black 
spot  on  the  gill  cover,  and  a [j<?]  large  one  between 
the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins:  lateral  line  straight, 
dorsal  fin  with  14  rays,  anal  with  9 rays. 

A singular  species  seen  at  the  falls.  It  is  rare  and 
called  Spotted  Sucker  or  Black  Sucker.  Length 
from  four  to  six  inches;  body  cylindrical,  flattened 
beneath  as  far  as  the  vent.  Head  flat  above,  black- 
ish there  and  in  the  fore  part.  Mouth  almost  ter- 
minal with  thick  whitish  lips,  the  lower  one  shorter 
and  thicker,  a few  small  black  spots  on  the  sides  of 
the  head  and  a large  one  on  the  preopercule.  Gill 
cover  silvery.  Eyes  black,  iris  brown  with  a gold 
ring.  Back  of  a rufescent  colour  with  gold  shades. 
A very  large  black  patch  above  the  anal  fin  before 
the  tail.  Sides  pale  with  small  unequal  black  dots, 
belly  whitish.  Fins  coppery,  the  pectoral  elliptical 
elongated  with  18  rays,  the  anal  elongated  reaching 
the  tail,  the  dorsal  broad  and  opposed  to  the  abdom- 


116 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


inal.  Tail  with  20  rays.  Scales  rather  large  ner- 
vose  radiated. 

6 1st  Species.  Black-bacic  Sucker.  Catostomus 
melanotus.  Catostome  melanote. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  the  length : bluish  black  a- 
bove,  whitish  beneath ; head  convex,  snout  obtuse  : lat- 
eral line  straight : dorsal  and  anal  fins  with  nine  rays. 

Seen  only  once  at  the  falls.  Length  six  inches, 
body  nearly  cylindrical.  Mouth  rather  inferior,  lips 
thick  and  somewhat  gristly.  Iris  silvery.  Scales 
pretty  large.  Fins  whitish,  the  dorsal  and  caudal  a 
little  redish.  Pectoral  fins  elliptical  with  16  rays. 
Tail  20.  Dorsal  fin  trapezoidal,  opposed  to  the  ab- 
dominal, the  first  ray  shorter.  Anal  elliptical  obtuse. 
Vulgar  names  Black  Sucker  and  Blue  Sucker. 

62d  Species.  Rough-head  Sucker.  Catostomus 
fasciolar  is.  Catostomus  fascie. 

Diameter  one  sixth  of  the  length : brown  above, 
white  be-  [II.  305]  neath,  sides  with  small  transversal 
black  lines : head  sloping,  tuberculated  above,  snout 
obtuse:  dorsal  fin  longitudinal  reaching  the  end  of 
the  anal  fin,  lateral  line  straight. 

I have  not  seen  this  species,  but  describe  it  from  a 
drawing  of  Mr.  Audubon.  It  is  found  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  Ohio.  Vulgar  names  Rough-head  Sucker, 
Pike  Sucker,  Striped  Sucker.  Length  about  eight 
inches,  body  cylindrical  tapering  behind.  , 

[jp]  Eyes  small,  mouth  beneath.  Lower  fins 
trapezoidal,  about  twenty  transversal  lines.  A 
doubtful  species,  perhaps  an  Hydrargyrus,  but  the 
mouth  is  like  that  of  the  Sucker. 

63d  Species,  Red-tail  Sucker.  Catostomus  ery- 
thrurus.  Catostome  rougequeue. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  length:  rufous  brown 


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117 


above,  white  beneath;  tail  olivaceous:  head  convex, 
snout  rounded : lateral  line  straight : dorsal  fin  trape- 
zoidal redish  with  12  rays,  anal  fin  elongated  yellow, 
anal  falcated,  with  7 rays. 

A fine  species,  not  uncommon  in  the  Ohio,  Ken- 
tucky, Cumberland,  Tennessee,  &c.  Vulgar  names 
Red-horse,  Red-tail,  Horse-fish,  Horse  Sucker,  &c. 
Length  about  one  foot.  Scales  very  large.  Mouth 
beneath.  Iris  whitish,  eyes  black.  Pectora[l]  fins 
yellow  elliptical  reaching  the  abdominals  and  with 
16  rays.  Tail  large  with  20  rays.  Its  flesh  is  dry 
and  not  very  good  to  eat. 

64th  Species.  Kentucky  Sucker.  Catostomus 
flexuosus.  Catostome  flexueux. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  length:  silvery,  back 
brownish,  scales  rather  rough,  opercule  flexuose: 
head  squared,  snout  gibbose  truncate;  lips  very 
thick,  the  inferior  bilobed:  lateral  line  flexuose:  tail 
brown:  dorsal  fin  blackish  with  12  rays,  anal  fin 
whitish  with  7 rays  and  reaching  the  tail. 

The  most  common  species  in  Kentucky,  in  all  the 
streams  and  ponds,  called  merely  Sucker.  Very 
good  to  eat.  It  conceals  itself  in  the  mud  in  winter. 
It  bites  at  the  hook,  living  on  minnies  and  little  lob- 
sters. Body  thick  cylindrical.  From  ten  to  twelve 
inches  long.  Head  large,  a deep  depresion  between 
the  snout  and  the  head,  mouth  large  with  fleshy  lips. 
Eyes  large  black,  iris  yellow.  Opercule  hard  bony. 
Lower  fins  whitish,  pectorals  elongated  elliptical  with 
20  rays.  Tail  20  [II.  306]  rays.  Dorsal  trapezoidal 
sloping  behind.  This  fish  is  the  most  useful  to  keep 
in  ponds. 

65th  Species.  Big-mouth  Sucker.  Catostomus? 
megastomus.  Catostome  megastome. 


118 


ICHTHYOL  OGIA  0HIENS1S 


Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  length : blackish  above, 
yellowish  beneath,  very  broad:  a spine  at  the  base 
of  the  pectoral  fins : lateral  line  straight. 

[do]  A very  doubtful  species  seen  by  Mr.  Audubon. 
It  comes  sometimes  in  shoals  in  March,  and  soon  dis- 
appears. Only  taken  with  the  seine,  not  biting  at 
the  hook;  vulgar  name  Brown  Sucker.  The  mouth 
is  very  remarkable,  being  broader  than  the  head, 
somewhat  projecting  on  the  sides.  Length  one  foot. 
The  head  resembles  that  of  the  Cat-fish,  but  has  no 
barbs.  Is  it  a peculiar  genus  owing  to  the  mouth 
and  pectoral  spine?  It  might  be  called  Eurystomus. 
The  yellow  colour  covers  the  forehead  and  reaches 
to  the  anal  fin.  Dorsal  opposed  to  the  abdominal  and 
trapezoidal,  pectorals  elliptical  yellow. 

5th  Subgenus.  Decactylus. 

Body  nearly  cylindrical,  abdominal  fins  with  10 
rays:  tail  equally  forked. 

Besides  the  two  following  species,  the  C.  bostonien- 
sis  and  C.  hudsonius , must  be  enumerated  here. 

66th.  Species.  Pittsburgh  Sucker.  Catostomus 
duquesni.  Catostome  duquesne. 

Diameter  one  fifth  of  the  length,  whitish ; lateral 
line  curved  towards  the  back : anal  fin  with  nine  rays 
extending  to  the  tail:  dorsal  with  14  rays  and  trape- 
zoidal. 

C.  duquesni  Lesueur  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sc.  v.  1,  p.  105. 

This  species  has  been  pretty  well  described  by  Le- 
sueur: see  his  description.  Length  from  15  to  20 
inches:  good  to  eat,  found  in  the  Ohio  as  far  as  Pitts- 
burgh : vulgar  name  White  Sucker. 

67th  Species.  Long  Sucker.  Catostomus  elongatas. 
Catostomus  allonge. 


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119 


Diameter  one  seventh  of  the  length;  brownish; 
lateral  line  nearly  straight : snout  and  opercules 
tuberculated : dorsal  fin  with  32  rays,  long,  falci- 
form and  raised  anteriorly.  Ana[l]  fin  small  with  8 
rays. 

[II.  307]  C.  elongatus  Lesueur  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sc.  v.  1, 
page  103. 

It  is  found  in  the  Ohio  as  far  as  Pittsburgh,  and 
called  Brown  Sucker.  Length  from  20  to  25  inches. 
Head  small  cuneiform  above:  Scales  large.  Good 
to  eat.  See  Mr.  Lesueur’s  description. 

[II-  355]  [P1]  XXI  Genus.  Suckrel.  Cycleptus. 

Cyclepte. 

Difference  from  the  foregoing  genus  — Two  dorsal 
fins,  mouth  round  and  terminal. 

The  name  means  small  round  mouth. 

68th  Species.  Black  Suckrel.  Cycleptus  nigres- 
cens.  Cyclepte  noiratre. 

Blackish,  belly  whitish,  mouth  recurved,  tail 
forked. 

Cycleptus.  17th  G.  of  Prod.  70  N.  G.  American 
Animals. 

A singular  and  rare  fish,  which  I have  never  seen, 
but  mention  upon  the  authority  of  Mr.  Bollman  of 
Pittsburgh ; where  it  sometimes  appears  in  the  spring  ; 
but  it  is  a rare  fish,  whose  flesh  is  very  much  esteemed. 
It  is  also  found  in  the  Missouri,  whence  it  is  some- 
times called  the  Missouri  Sucker.  Length  two  feet. 

XXII  Genus.  Catfish.  Pimelodus.  Pimelode. 

Body  scaleless,  elongated.  Head  large  with  barbs. 
Two  dorsal  fins,  the  second  adipose  and  separated 
from  the  tail,  the  first  short  and  commonly  armed. 


120 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Pectoral  fins  commonly  armed.  Teeth  like  a file. 
Vent  commonly  posterior. 

The  extensive  genus  Silurus  of  Linneus,  which  is 
scattered  throughout  the  rivers  of  both  continents, 
has  not  yet  been  completely  illustrated,  notwith- 
standing the  labours  of  the  modern  ichthyologists.  I 
have  found  in  the  Ohio  about  twelve  species  belong- 
ing to  it : most  of  which  offer  consimilar  characters 
and  appear  to  belong  to  the  genus  Pimelodus  of  Lace- 
pede  and  Cuvier : which  have  left  the  name  of  Silurus 
to  the  species  having  one  dorsal  fin.  I have  already 
published  a monography  of  them  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Royal  Institution  of  London,  under  the  generic 
name  of  Silurus.  I now  propose  to  form  with  them 
a peculiar  subgenus , divided  in  many  sections,  and 
different  from  the  subgenera  Bagrus , Synodontus,  Silu- 
sox,  &c. 

[II.  356]  Subgenus.  Ictalurus. 

Head  depressed  with  eight  barbs,  one  at  each  cor- 
ner of  the  mouth,  longer  than  the  others,  four  under 
the  chin,  and  two  on  the  snout  behind  the  nostrils. 
Teeth  in  two  patches,  acute  and  file-shaped.  Pec- 
toral fins  and  first  dorsal  fin  armed  with  an  anterior 
spine.  First  dorsal  trapezoidal  and  before  the  ab- 
domi-  [62]  nals,  second  opposite  the  anal.  Body 
compressed  behind,  vent  posterior  or  sub  medial. 
Operculum  simple. 

The  fishes  belonging  to  this  group  are  common 
throughout  the  United  States,  the  Silurus  catus  of 
Linneus,  which  is  not  found  in  the  Ohio,  belongs 
also  to  it.  They  are  sedentary  in  the  Ohio  and 
branches,  and  very  voracious,  feeding  on  all  smaller 
fishes:  they  are  easily  taken  with  the  hook;  their 
flesh  is  esteemed,  and,  although  it  is  somewhat  tough 


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121 


in  the  largest  species,  it  makes  notwithstanding  ex- 
cellent soup.  These  fishes  often  come  to  a great  size 
and  live  to  a great  age.  The  name  of  Ictalurus , 
means  Cat-fish  in  Greek. 

ist  Section.  Elliops.  Tail  forked.  Eyes  ellip- 
tical. Abdominal  fins  with  less  than  nine  rays. 

69th  Species.  Spotted  Catfish.  Pimelodus  macu- 
latus . Pimelode  tachete. 

Upper  jaw  longer,  lateral  barbs  black,  reaching  the 
dorsal  fin.  Eyes  elliptical.  Body  whitish  with 
small  unequal  brown  spots  on  the  sides ; vent  sub- 
medial:  tail  unequally  forked,  upper  lobe  longer. 
Pectoral  fins  fenestrated.  Anal  fin  longitudinal  with 
27  rays.  Lateral  line  straight. 

Silurus  maculatus.  Monogr.  sp.  1. 

One  of  the  small  species,  commonly  about  one  foot 
long  and  slender,  never  reaching  a large  size.  Vul- 
gar names  Spotted,  White,  and  Channel  Catfish.  It 
is  found  as  far  as  Pittsburgh,  but  is  not  very  com- 
mon. Flesh  very  good.  Head  long  and  flat,  oliva- 
ceous rufous  above,  jaws  rounded,  lips  thick.  Upper 
barbs  the  shortest  and  white ; the  exterior  inferior 
ones  long  and  black  at  the  end.  Iris  elliptical  white. 
Body  somewhat  attenuated  behind,  entirely  silvery 
white.  Belly  white,  flattened,  without  spots  or 
shades.  Sides  with  gilt  and  blue  shades,  besides  the 
brown  spots.  Back  unspotted,  pale,  rufescent.  Lat- 
eral line  not  reaching  the  gills  and  slightly  raised 
upwards  [II.  357]  at  the  base.  First  dorsal  fin  with 
six  soft  rays.  Pectoral  fins  with  five,  spiny  ray 
longer,  very  thick,  and  united  to  the  fin  by  a fenes- 
trate web  on  the  inner  serrate  side.  Abdominal 
oboval  and  with  8 rays.  Caudal  with  20.  Lobes 
acute.  All  the  fins  redish,  marginated,  or  tipped 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENS1S 


122 


with  brown.  Tail  marginated.  Adipose  fins  brown. 

[6j]  70th  Species.  Blue  Catfish.  Pivelodus  ceru- 
lescens.  Pimelode  bleuatre. 

Upper  jaw  longer,  lateral  barbs  black,  shorter 
than  the  gills.  Eyes  elliptical.  Operculum  and 
lateral  line  flexuose.  Body  of  a bluish  lead  colour, 
whitish  beneath,  unspotted.  Tail  equally  forked, 
base  redish.  Anal  fin  arched  with  25  rays. 

Silurus  cerulescens.  Monogr.  sp.  3. 

A fine  species,  reaching  sometimes  to  a very  large 
size,  I have  been  told  that  one  was  taken  weighing 
185  pounds  and  another  250  pounds.  Vulgar  names 
Blue  Cat  and  Brown  Cat,  or  Catfish.  It  is  not 
uncommon  in  the  lowest  parts  of  the  river.  Whole 
shape  somewhat  fusiform  as  in  all  the  species  with  a 
forked  tail,  yet  depressed  forwards  and  compressed 
behind.  Of  an  uniform  lead  colour,  nearly  blue  in 
the  young  individuals  and  nearly  brown  in  the  old 
ones.  Barbs  rather  short  and  white,  the  upper  ones 
very  short  and  brown.  Iris  elongate  and  whitish. 
Fins  bluish;  but  the  pectoral  and  abdominal  whitish. 
Spine  of  the  pectoral  fins  equal  in  length,  not  fenes- 
trate, and  hardly  serrate  inside.  Number  of  rays, 
dorsal  1 and  6,  pectoral  1 and  7,  abdominal  6,  caudal 
22.  A variety  has  a blackish  tail.  Vent  posterior. 

71st  Species.  White  Catfish.  Pimelodus pallidus. 
Pimelode  pale. 

Upper  jaw  longer,  lateral  barbs  reaching  the  pec- 
toral fins.  Eyes  elliptical.  Lateral  line  straight. 
Body  whitish,  back  slightly  olivaceous.  Tail  nearly 
equally  forked.  Anal  fin  elongate  with  25  rays. 

Silurus  pallidus.  Monogr.  sp.  2. 

Vulgar  names  white  and  channel  Catfish:  this  last 
name  is  given  to  it  because  it  dwells  principally  in 


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123 


the  channels  or  deeper  parts  of  the  river.  Length 
from  one  to  two  feet.  Shape  as  in  the  foregoing. 
Head  smaller,  olivaceous  above.  Barbs  [II.  358] 
white.  Iris  white.  First  dorsal  fin  nearer  to  the 
abdominal  fins,  yellowish,  rays  1 and  6.  Pectorals 
yellowish,  rays  1 and  7.  Abdominals  white  with  six 
rays.  Adipose  fin  olive  with  a brown  tip.  Anal  and 
caudal  pale  brown,  24  rays  in  the  tail,  which  has  the 
upper  acute  lobe  slightly  longer.  It  offers  some 
varieties.  1st.  Marginata.  Tail  fulvous,  margin- 
ated  with  black  [<5y]  2d.  Lateralis.  With  three 
black  spots  on  each  side.  3d.  Leucoptera.  All  the 
fins  pale  and  whitish. 

72d  Species.  Silvery  Catfish.  Pimelodus  argy- 
rus.  Pimelode  argyre. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  lateral  barbs  brown  and  reach- 
ing the  pectoral  fins.  Eyes  elliptical.  Body  silvery, 
lateral  line  straight.  Fins  brownish,  anal  with  25 
rays.  Tail  equally  forked. 

Silurus  argent eus.  Monography,  sp.  4.  There  is 
another  species  of  that  name  already. 

A small  and  rare  species,  very  similar  to  the  fore- 
going, of  which  it  is  perhaps  a variety.  Number  of 
rays  similar. 

2d  Section.  Leptops.  Tail  bilobed.  Eyes  round 
and  very  small.  Nine  abdominal  rays.  Vent  pos- 
terior. Adipose  fins  large. 

73d  Species.  Clammy  Catfish.  Pimelodus  viscosus. 
Pimelode  visqueux. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  barbs  very  short,  eyes  round 
over  the  head.  Body  entirely  brown,  lateral  line 
raised  upwards  before.  Pectoral  fins  with  1 and  7 
rays,  anal  fin  rounded  with  1 5 rays.  Tail  unequally 
bilobed  and  black,  upper  lobe  smaller  and  white. 

Silurus  viscosus.  Monogr.  sp.  6 


124 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


A very  singular  and  rare  species,  found  at  the 
falls.  Length  only  4 inches,  brown  with  bluish  and 
greyish  shades,  covered  with  a clammy  viscosity; 
throat  whitish.  Head  very  flat,  with  a longitudinal 
furrow  above,  elongated;  upper  jaw  hardly  longer. 
Eyes  over  the  head  very  small  and  bluish.  Spines 
of  the  anterior  fins  short,  thick,  and  simple.  Dorsal 
with  1 and  7 rays.  Abdominal  small  with  9.  Anal 
blackish. 

75th  [i.e.,  74th]  Species.  Clouded  Catfish. 
Pimelodus  nebulosus.  Pimelode  nebuleux. 

Jaws  equal,  barbs  shorter  than  the  head.  Eyes 
round,  exceedingly  small.  Body  olivaceous,  clouded 
with  pale  brown,  [II.  359]  white  beneath,  lateral  line 
nearly  straight.  Pectoral  fins  with  1 and  9 rays, 
anal  fin  rounded  with  12  rays.  Tail  merely  notched, 
hardly  but  equally  bilobed. 

Silurus  nebulosus.  Monogr.  sp.  5. 

This  species  is  totally  different  from  the  foregoing, 
and  might  perhaps  form  a peculiar  section  or  even 
subgenus,  (O-  \_65~]  pladelus ) by  the  conical  head,  mem- 
branaceous operculum;  but  particularly  because  the 
first  ray  of  all  the  fins,  except  the  caudal  and  adipose, 
is  a kind  of  soft  obtuse  spine  concealed  under  the 
fleshy  cover  of  the  fins.  It  is  a large  fish,  from  two 
to  four  feet  long,  and  commonly  called  Yellow  Cat, 
Mud  Cat,  and  Brown  Cat ; but  these  names  are  com- 
mon to  other  species.  It  is  very  good  to  eat,  either 
boiled  or  fried.  Head  conical  depressed,  iris  redish 
brown,  eyes  black,  lateral  barbs  white,  the  lateral 
ones  brownish.  Operculum  with  a large  membrana- 
ceous appendage  or  flap.  Body  conical  tapering 
behind.  Dorsal  fins  with  1 and  6 rays.  All  the  fins 


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125 


very  fat,  thick,  and  somewhat  redish,  abdominal  fins 
brownish.  Tail  with  20  rays. 

2d  [i.e.,  3d]  Section.  Ameiurus.  Tail  entire. 
Eyes  round.  Eight  abdominal  rays.  Vent  posterior. 
Dorsal  fin  anterior  with  a spine.  Lower  jaw  not 
longer.  Pectoral  fins,  with  one  simple  spine  and 
seven  rays. 

75th  Species.  Yellow  Catfish.  Pimelodus  cuprens. 
Pimelode  cuivre. 

Upper  jaw  longer,  barbs  half  the  length  of  the 
head.  Eyes  round.  Body  entirely  of  a coppery 
yellow  colour.  Lateral  line  straight.  Tail  truncate 
entire.  Anal  with  1 5 rays. 

Silurus  cupreus.  Monogr.  sp.  9. 

Vulgar  name,  Yellow  Catfish.  Very  different  from 
the  foregoing.  Similar  however  in  size  and  form. 
Colour  uniform,  extending  on  the  head  and  fins. 
Spines  short.  It  is  found  as  far  as  Pittsburgh.  Very 
good  to  eat.  Some  have  been  taken  weighing  over 
200  pounds.  Dorsal  fin  with  1 and  7 rays. 

76th  Species.  Brown  Catfish.  Pimelodus  Hindus. 
Pimelode  livide. 

Jaws  equal,  barbs-  nearly  equal  together  and  as 
long  as  the  head.  Eyes  round.  Body  entirely  of  a 
livid  brown  colour.  [II.  360]  Tail  rounded  entire. 
Lateral  line  raised  upwards  at  the  base.  Anal  fin 
elongate  with  25  rays. 

Silurus  lividus.  Monogr.  sp.  7. 

A small  species,  entirely  of  a leaden  brown.  Head 
short,  slightly  olivaceous,  throat  pale.  Barbs  equal, 
the  upper  ones  livid,  the  lower  ones  rufous.  A fur- 
row on  the  head  which  is  [fib]  convex  above.  Oper- 
culum flexuose.  Tail  with  24  rays.  Dorsal  with 
one  and  7.  Spines  short. 


126 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


77th  Species.  Black  Catfish.  Pimelodus  melas . 
Pimelode  noir. 

Jaws  nearly  equal.  Eyes  round.  Barbs  unequal, 
shorter  than  the  head.  Body  entirely  black,  lateral 
line  straight.  Anal  fin  with  20  rays.  Tail  nearly 
truncate,  entire. 

Silurus  melas.  Monogr.  sp.  8. 

A rare  species  less  than  a foot  long.  Hardly  pale 
beneath.  Dorsal  fin  1 and  7.  Found  below  the  falls. 

78th  Species.  Yellow  head  Catfish.  Pimelodus 
xanthocephalus.  Pimelode  xanthocephale. 

Upper  jaw  longer.  Barbs  unequal  shorter  than 
the  head.  Eyes  round.  Body  iron  grey,  with  the 
whole  or  part  of  the  head  yellow.  Belly  white. 
Lateral  line  straight.  Anal  fin  with  22  rays.  Tail 
entirely  truncate. 

Silurus  xanthrocephalus . Monogr.  sp.  10. 

About  a foot  long.  In  the  Ohio,  Kentucky,  &c. 
Head  very  large,  often  entirely  yellow,  or  only  for- 
ward, or  covered  with  yellow  patches.  Iris  white. 
Fins  fleshy  redish.  The  dorsal  with  1 and  6 rays, 
caudal  24.  Good  food. 

4th  Section.  Ilictis.  Tail  entire,  eyes  elliptical. 
Nine  abdominal  rays.  Dorsal  fins  submedial.  Pec- 
toral fins  with  one  flat  spine  serrated  outwards,  and 
nine  rays.  Lower  jaw  longer. 

79th  Species.  Mud  Catfish.  Pimelodus  limosus . 
Pimelode  bourbeux. 

Lower  jaw  longer.  Barbs  black,  the  lateral  ones 
reaching  the  pectoral  fins.  Body  fulvous,  variegated 
or  clouded  with  black,  belly  grey.  No  lateral  line.. 
Anal  fin  with  1 5 rays.  Tail  entire  oval  obtuse. 

Silurus  limosus.  Monog.  sp.  1 1 . 

[II.  361]  A very  singular  species,  differing  from 


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127 


all  others  by  the  long  lower  jaw,  &c:  Length  about 
one  foot.  It  has  a slender  body  of  a rufous  brown 
mixed  with  black.  It  is  found  in  the  muddy  streams, 
and  near  the  muddy  banks  of  large  rivers.  Dorsal  fin 
opposite  the  abdominal,  with  one  spine  concealed 
under  the  skin  and  six  rays.  Branchial  membrane 
apparent  outside.  Pecto-  [by]  ral  fins  with  io  rays, 
the  first  whereof  is  a long  and  broad  flat  spine,  barbed 
outwards.  Tail  with  20  rays.  This  fish  can  live 
very  long  out  of  water,  and  is  sometimes  alive  24 
hours  after  having  been  taken. 

XXIII  Genus.  Mudcat.  Pilodictis.  Pylodicte. 

Body  scaleless  conical  flattened  forwards  and  com- 
pressed behind.  Head  very  broad  and  flat,  with 
barbs,  eyes  above  the  head.  Two  dorsal  fins,  both 
with  soft  rays.  Vent  posterior. 

This  genus  was  the  10th  of  my  Prod,  of  70  N.  G. 
of  Animals.  The  name  means  Mudfish.  It  differs 
principally  from  the  foregoing  by  the  second  dorsal 
having  rays. 

80th  Species.  Toad  Mudcat.  Pylodictis  limosus. 
Pylodicte  bourbeux. 

Lower  jaw  longer,  eyes  round,  eight  barbs,  four 
above  and  four  below.  Head  verrucose  above. 
Body  brown,  clouded  and  dotted  with  yellowish,  red- 
ish, and  bluish,  one  row  of  transversal  black  lines  on 
each  side  of  the  back.  No  lateral  line.  Tail  entire 
and  truncate. 

I have  not  seen  this  fish,  but  describe  it  from  a 
drawing  of  Mr.  Audubon.  It  is  found  in  the  lower 
parts  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi,  where  it  lives 
on  muddy  bottoms,  and  buries  itself  in  the  mud  in 
the  winter.  It  reaches  sometimes  the  weight  of  20 


128 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


pounds.  It  bears  the  name  of  Mudcat,  Mudfish, 
Mudsucker,  and  Toadfish.  It  is  good  to  eat  and 
bites  at  the  hook.  The  head  is  broader  than  the 
body  and  with  a very  large  mouth ; the  barbs  appear 
to  lay  in  four  pairs,  two  above,  longer  and  near  the 
nostrils,  and  two  smaller  under  the  lower  jaw.  The 
first  dorsal  fins  triangular  and  above  the  abdominals, 
which  are  nearer  to  the  pectorals  than  to  the  anal. 
Second  elongate  with  many  rays.  Number  of  rays 
unnoticed. 

XXIV  Genus.  Bacictail.  Noturus.  Noture. 

Difference  from  G.  Pimelodus , S.  G.  Ictalums , and 
Sect.  [II.  362]  Ameiurus : Adipose  dorsal  fin  very 
long,  decurrent  and  united  with  the  tail,  which  is 
decurrent  on  each  side,  but  unconnected  with  the 
anal  fin. 

Genus  18th  of  the  Prodr.  N.  G.  It  differs  from 
the  genus  Plotosus  of  Lacepede  by  having  the  anal  fin 
free,  and  from  Pimelodus  by  the  connection  of  the  tail 
with  the  second  dorsal  [d<?]  fin.  The  name  means 
Tail  over  the  back.  The  Silurus  gyrinus  of  Mitchell 
must  belong  to  this  genus. 

8 1 st  Species.  Yellow  Bacictail.  Noturus  flavus. 
Noture  jaune. 

Entirely  yellowish.  Upper  jaw  longer,  barbs  half 
the  length  of  the  head.  Eyes  round.  Lateral  line 
nearly  straight.  Anal  fin  with  14  rays.  Tail  entire 
truncate. 

A small  species  very  common  near  the  falls. 
Length  4 to  12  inches.  It  agrees  in  almost  every 
thing  with  the  Section  Ameiurus  among  the  Catfishes. 
Vulgar  name  Yellow  Catfish,  like  the  Pimelodus 
cupreus.  Dorsal  fin  with  1 and  7 rays,  rounded  spine 


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very  short  and  obtuse.  Second  dorsal  beginning 
before  the  anal  and  extending  to  the  tail  in  a curve. 
All  the  lower  fins  rounded.  Pectorals  with  i and  7 
rays,  spine  equal  and  acute.  Abdominal  fins  with  8 
rays.  All  the  fins  fleshy  and  fat.  Head  flat  above, 
barbs  unequal.  Belly  convex.  Hind  part  of  the 
body  compressed. 

XXV  Genus.  Toter.  Hypentelium.  Hypentele. 

Body  pyramidal  slightly  compressed,  with  very 
minute  scales.  Vent  posterior.  Head  scaleless  near- 
ly square,  mouth  terminal  protruded  beneath,  tooth- 
less, lower  jaw  shorter  with  five  lobes,  the  middle 
one  larger,  lips  very  small.  Abdominal  fins  anterior, 
removed  from  the  vent,  with  nine  rays,  dorsal  fin 
anterior  opposed  to  them. 

This  genus  belongs  to  the  family  of  Cyprinidia, 
and  is  next  to  my  genus  Exoglossum,  with  which  I 
had  united  it;  but  this  last  differs  from  it  by  an 
oblong  body,  flat  head,  lower  lip  trilobe  not  pro- 
truded, abdominal  fins  and  dorsal  fin  medial,  &c. 
The  name  expresses  the  character  of  the  lower  lip. 

82d  Species.  Ohio  Toter.  Hypentelium  macrop- 
terum.  Hypentele  macroptere. 

Forehead  sloping  truncate  tuberculated.  Body 
silvered,  variegated,  [II.  363]  and  reticulated  with 
blackish,  lateral  line  straight  and  faint.  All  the 
lower  fins  elongated,  the  pectorals  reaching  the  ab- 
dominals, the  anal  with  10  rays  and  reaching  the 
tail,  dorsal  fin  with  12  rays,  tail  forked. 

Exoglossum  macropterum.  Raf.  in  Journal  Acad. 
Nat.  Sc.  of  Philad.  Vol.  1,  page  320.  tab.  17  fig.  4. 

[dp]  It  is  found  near  the  falls  and  is  only  a small 
fish  2 or  3 inches  long.  Its  vulgar  name  is  Toter  or 


130 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Stone-toter.  (Toter  is  a Virginia  name  for  carrier.) 
There  is  a kind  of  Chub  in  Virginia  which  bears  the 
same  name  and  has  the  habit  of  pushing  pebbles  with 
its  head  in  order  to  form  an  inclosure  where  the 
female  lays  its  eggs;  the  name  of  Toter  was  given 
to  the  Ohio  fish  owing  to  the  same  peculiarity.  It 
is  a rare  fish  and  used  as  bait.  The  mouth  projects 
in  a short  and  obtuse  snout.  Iris  large  and  gilt. 
Opercule  simple.  Pectoral  fins  lanceolate  acute,  as 
long  as  the  head  and  with  12  rays.  Abdominal  fins 
lanceolate  acute,  situated  nearly  half  way  between 
the  head  and  the  vent,  but  not  reaching  it.  Dorsal 
fin  trapezoidal.  Anal  fin  elongate : Caudal  fin  with 
20  rays. 

[III.  165]  XXVI  Genus.  Ribbonfish.  Sarchirus. 

Sarchire. 

Body  scaleless  slender  cylindrical,  slightly  com- 
pressed. Vent  posterior.  Head  nearly  square. 
Jaws  elongated  narrow  flat,  with  four  rows  of  small 
unequal  teeth,  the  lower  one  shorter  and  moveable, 
the  upper  one  longer  immobile,  with  an  obtuse  knob 
at  the  end.  Pectoral  fins  round  without  rays,  but 
with  a thin  circular  membrane  surrounding  an  adipose 
base.  Abdominal  fins  anterior  with  six  rays.  Dorsal 
fin  posterior  nearer  to  the  tail  than  the  anal.  Caudal 
fin  lanceolate,  decurrent  beneath. 

A very  distinct  genus  of  the  family  Esoxida,  differ- 
ing from  all  the  genera  of  it  by  its  fleshy  pectoral  fins : 
It  differs  besides  from  Lepisosteus  by  the  naked  body, 
and  from  Esox  by  the  tail  &c.  The  name  means 
fleshy  arms. 

83  Species.  Ohio  Ribbonfish.  Sarchirus  vittatus. 
Sarchire  rubanne. 


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Back  olivaceous  brown,  and  with  three  longitudinal 
furrows,  a black  lateral  band  from  the  mouth  to  the 
end  of  the  tail,  no  lateral  line.  Belly  with  a lateral 
row  of  black  dots  on  each  side.  Jaws  obtuse  longer 
than  the  head.  Anal  and  dorsal  fins  ovate  acute 
with  two  transverse  black  bands,  the  anal  with  ten 
rays,  the  dorsal  with  nine.  Tail  unequilateral  acu- 
minate. 

[III.  1 66]  Sarchirus  vittatus.  Raf.  in  Journ.  Ac. 
Nat.  Sc.  Philadelphia,  V.  i,  page  418,  tab.  17.  fig.  2. 

In  the  lower  parts  of  the  Ohio  and  at  the  falls; 
length  from  [70]  six  to  twelve  inches.  Vulgar  names 
Ribbonfish  and  Garfish.  Not  used  as  food.  Abdom- 
inal fins  narrow  almost  linear  acute,  and  with  two 
transverse  black  bands,  situated  half  way  between 
the  pectoral  and  anal  fins.  This  last  far  from  the 
tail. 

XXVII  Genus.  Pike.  Esox.  Brochet. 

Body  cylindrical  or  very  long  covered  with  small 
scales,  vent  posterior.  One  dorsal  fin  behind  the 
abdominal  fins.  Mouth  large,  jaws  long  and  flat- 
tened with  very  strong  teeth : opening  of  the  gills 
very  large.  Head  bony  scaleless.  Tail  not  obliqual. 
All  the  fins  with  rays. 

There  are  several  species  of  Pikes  in  the  Ohio, 
Mississippi,  Wabash,  Kentucky,  &c.  I have  not  yet 
been  able  to  observe  them  thoroughly.  I have 
however  procured  correct  accounts,  and  figures  of  two 
species;  but  there  are  more.  They  appear  to  belong 
to  a peculiar  subgenus  distinguished  by  a long  dor- 
sal fin,  a forked  tail,  and  the  abdominal  fins  anterior, 
being  removed  from  the  vent.  It  may  be  called 
Picorellus.  The  French  settlers  of  the  Wabash  and 


132 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Missouri  call  them  Piconeau,  and  the  American  settlers 
Pikes  or  Pickerels.  They  are  permanent  but  rare 
fishes,  retiring  however  in  deep  waters  in  winter. 
They  prefer  the  large  streams,  are  very  voracious, 
and  grow  to  a large  size.  They  prey  on  all  the  other 
fishes  except  the  Garfishes,  &c.  They  are  easily 
taken  with  the  hook,  and  afford  a very  good  food, 
having  a delicate  flesh. 

84th  Species.  Streaked  Pike.  Esox  vittatus. 
Brochet  raye. 

White,  with  two  blackish  longitudinal  streaks  on 
each  side,  back  brownish : jaws  nearly  equal,  very 
obtuse,  eyes  large  and  behind  the  mouth : dorsal  fins 
longitudinal  between  the  abdominal  and  anal  fins: 
tail  forked. 

E.  vittatus.  Raf.  in  American  Monthly  Magazine, 
1818,  Volume  3,  page  447. 

This  fish  is  rare  in  the  Ohio,  (although  it  has  been 
seen  at  Pittsburgh,)  but  more  common  in  the  Wabash 
and  Upper  Mississippi.  It  is  called  Piconeau  or  Pica- 
neau  by  the  Canadians  [III.  167]  and  Missourians. 
It  reaches  the  length  of  from  three  to  five  feet.  The 
pectoral  and  abdominal  fins  are  trapezoidal,  the  anal 
and  dorsal  longitudinal  with  many  rays  and  nearly 
equal.  It  is  [7/]  sometimes  called  Jack  or  Jackfish. 
Lateral  line  straight. 

85th  Species.  Salmon  Pike.  Esox  salmoneus. 
Brochet  saumonne. 

White,  with  many  narrow  transversal  brown 
bands,  somewhat  curved:  jaws  nearly  equal,  very 
obtuse:  dorsal  fins  brown  longitudinal  and  extend- 
ing over  the  anal  fins:  tail  forked  and  brown. 

It  is  one  of  the  best  fishes  in  the  Ohio,  its  flesh  is 
very  delicate,  and  divides  easily,  as  in  Salmon,  into 


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large  plates  as  white  as  snow.  It  is  called  Salmon 
Pike,  White  Pike,  White  Jack  or  White  Pickerel, 
and  Picanean  blanc  by  the  Missourians.  It  has  a short 
and  thick  head,  eyes  not  very  large,  and  situated 
upwards.  Pectoral  and  abdominal  fins  trapezoidal. 
Dorsal  fin  beginning  behind  these  last  and  extending 
over  the  anal.  The  number  of  transversal  bands  is 
twelve  or  more,  rather  distant  and  with  the  concav- 
ity towards  the  head.  It  reaches  the  length  of  five 
feet.  Lateral  line  nearly  straight. 

XXVIII  Genus.  Garfish.  Lepisosteus.  Lepisoste 

Body  cylindrical  or  fusiform,  covered  with  hard 
bony  scales,  vent  posterior.  Head  bony  scaleless. 
Jaws  very  long,  and  with  strong  unequal  teeth. 
Opening  of  the  gills  very  large.  Tail  obliqual.  All 
the  fins  with  rays.  One  dorsal  fin  behind  the  abdom- 
inal fins  which  are  removed  from  the  vent. 

The  Garfishes  or  Gars,  are  easily  known  from  the 
Pikes  by  their  large  and  hard  scales.  This  fine  genus 
had  been  overlooked  by  Linneus  and  united  with 
the  Pikes.  Lacepede  was  the  first  to  distinguish  it; 
but  he  has  not  been  able  to  ascertain  nor  elucidate 
its  numerous  species.  He  has  blended  all  the  North 
American  species  under  the  name  of  Lepisosteus  gavial, 
the  type  of  which  was  the  Esox  osseus  of  Linneus,  or 
rather  the  Alligator  fish  of  Catesby.  I find  that  Dr. 
Mitchill,  in  a late  publication,  describes  another 
species  quite  new  under  the  obsolete  name  of  Esox 
osseus.  I shall  describe  and  distinguish  accurately 
five  species  living  in  the  Ohio  or  Mississippi,  which 
must  be  divided  into  two  subgenera.  To  this  num- 
ber [III.  168]  must  be  added  three  other  known 
species,  i.  L.  gavial , the  Garfish  or  Alligator  fish 


134 


ICHTH YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


of  the  Southern  Atlantic  States.  2.  L.  spatula  or 
the  Gar  of  Chili.  3.  L.  indicus  or  the  East  Indian 
[72]  Gar.  I suspect  however  that  there  are  more 
than  ten  species  of  these  fishes  in  the  United  States, 
and  many  others  in  South  America,  &c.  The  Gars 
of  the  Ohio  partake  of  the  inclinations  and  proper- 
ties of  the  Pikes;  but  they  are  still  more  dangerous 
and  voracious.  Their  flesh  may  be  eaten : but  is 
often  rejected  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  skinning 
them,  the  operation  may  however  be  performed  by 
splitting  the  skin  beneath  in  zig-zag.  Their  scales 
are  very  singular,  they  are  not  embricated  as  in  all 
other  fishes;  but  lay  over  the  skin  in  oblique  rows, 
and  are  as  hard  as  bones.  They  have  many  other 
peculiarities  in  common  which  have  been  stated 
by  Cuvier,  or  may  be  collected  from  the  following 
descriptions. 

1 Subgenus.  Cylindrosteus. 

Body  cylindrical,  dorsal  fin  beginning  behind  the 
anal  fin.  The  name  means  bony  cylinder. 

86th  Species.  Duckbill  Garfish.  Lepisosteus 
platostornus.  Lepisoste  platostome. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  as  long  as  the  head,  about  one 
ninth  of  total  length,  and  flattened ; body  cylindrical 
olivaceous  brown  above,  white  beneath : fins  yellow- 
ish, dorsal  and  anal  spotted  with  eight  rays,  abdom- 
inal fins  with  seven  rays,  tail  obtuse  oboval  and 
spotted  with  brown : lateral  line  nearly  obsolete. 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Ohio,  Miami, 
Scioto,  Wabash,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Tennessee, 
Cumberland,  &c.  and  other  tributary  streams.  It 
reaches  the  length  of  four  feet.  It  is  taken  with  the 
seine,  the  hook,  and  even  with  the  gig  or  harpoon. 


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It  is  found  as  far  as  Pittsburgh  and  in  the  Alleghany 
River.  Its  flesh  is  as  good  as  that  of  the  Streaked 
Pike ; but  is  erroneously  thought  poisonous  by  some 
persons.  I shall  give  a full  description  of  it,  which 
will  preclude  the  necessity  of  repetitions  in  describ- 
ing the  others.  The  individuals  which  I observed 
were  26  inches  long,  the  head  5 the  jaws  2j{ 
inches:  the  dimension  from  the  end  of  the  jaws  to 
the  abdominal  fins  was  12  inches,  and  to  the  vent  18. 
The  body  was  2 inches  horizontally  and  2^  verti- 
cally; nearly  cylindrical,  but  slightly  [III.  169]  flat- 
tened on  the  back  and  belly,  with  convex  sides 
slightly  yellowish : the  whole  body  is  covered  with 
hard  bony  scales,  some  what  unequal  and  obliquely 
rhomboidal,  but  with  the  two  inner  \/j]  sides  con- 
cave and  the  two  outward  sides  convex,  lying  in 
oblique  rows,  surface  smooth  and  convex.  Head 
scaleless,  hard,  and  bony,  eyes  behind  the  base  of 
the  jaws,  iris  large  gilt  with  a brown  stripe  across, 
centre  or  real  eyes  small  and  black.  'Jaws  short, 
broad,  flat  and  obtuse,  breadth  about  one  fifth  of  the 
length,  the  upper  one  putting  over  the  lower  one  and 
with  four  small  nostrils  at  the  end,  motionless  and 
with  three  longitudinal  furrows.  The  lower  jaw 
moveable,  soft  in  the  middle.  Teeth  white,  unequal, 
acute,  strong,  and  upon  a single  row.  Tongue  bi- 
lobed  cartilaginous  and  rough.  Branchial  with  8 
rays,  jutting  out  and  gilt.  Pectoral  fins  yellow  with 
12  rays,  situated  directly  behind  the  gill  covers  and 
elliptical  acute.  Abdominal  fins  yellow,  obliquely 
oboval  obtuse  and  with  7 rays.  Anal  and  dorsal  fins 
oval  nearly  equal  and  acute,  each  with  8 rays  the  an- 
terior of  which  is  serrated,  yellowish  olivaceous  and 
spotted  with  brown,  the  dorsal  beginning  behind  the 


136 


ICHTHYOL  OGIA  OH1ENSIS 


beginning  of  the  anal.  Space  between  those  fins  and 
the  tail  attenuated.  Tail  or  caudal  fin  four  inches 
long,  oblong  oboval,  entire  obtuse,  base  obliqual,  the 
lower  part  decurrent,  with  twelve  rays,  the  upper 
one  serrated,  yellowish  olivaceous  spotted  with  small 
unequal  brown  spots.  Lateral  line  concealed  under 
the  scales,  hardly  visible  outside.  This  fish  bears 
(together  with  the  following)  the  names  of  Gar,  Gar- 
fish, Alligator  Gar,  Alligator  fish,  Jack  or  Gar  Pike, 
&c.  and  on  the  Mississippi  the  French  names  of 
Brocheteau,  Picaneau,  Poisson  caymon , &c. 

87th  Species.  White  Garfish.  Lepisosteus  Albus. 
Lepisoste  blanc. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  as  long  as  the  head,  about 
one  eighth  of  total  length,  and  very  broad;  body 
cylindrical  and  white,  fins  olivaceous  unspotted,  tail 
obtuse  oblong,  lateral  line  obsolete. 

This  fish  resembles  very  much  the  foregoing,  and 
has  the  general  shape  of  a Pike.  It  is  covered  all 
over  with  white  shining  obliqual  elliptical  smooth 
and  convex  scales.  It  reaches  the  length  of  six  feet, 
and  is  often  called  Garpike  or  Pike-gar.  [III.  170] 
It  is  a rare  fish  in  the  Ohio.  Jaws  shorter  and 
broader  than  in  the  foregoing,  breadth  one  fourth  of 
the  length. 

88th  Species.  Ohio  Garfish.  Lepisosteus  oxyurus. 
Lepisoste  oxyure. 

[7y]  Upper  jaw  longer,  longer  than  the  head,  one 
sixth  of  total  length,  flat  and  narrow:  body  cylin- 
drical olivaceous  brown  above,  white  beneath : dorsal 
fin  with  eight  rays,  anal  fin  with  ten,  abdominal 
with  six,  lanceolate  acute,  spotted  with  black ; lat- 
eral line  straight,  but  raised  upwards  at  the  base. 

This  is  a very  distinct  species  by  the  shape  of  the 


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jaws  and  tail.  It  is  found  in  the  Ohio;  but  is  by  no 
means  common.  It  reaches  six  feet  in  length.  Its 
flesh  is  not  very  good  to  eat,  rather  tough  and  strong 
smelling,  like  that  of  some  strong  sturgeons.  The 
individual  which  I observed  was  caught  at  the  falls, 
and  was  30  inches  in  length,  with  the  upper  jaw  5 
inches  long,  while  the  lower  jaw  was  only  four 
inches:  The  upper  one  has  three  furrows  and  juts 

over  the  lower  by  a thick  curved  obtuse  point  with 
four  small  openings  or  nostrils,  although  there  were 
two  other  oblong  nostrils  in  obliqual  furrows,  at  the 
base  before  the  eyes.  This  does  not  appear  in  L. 
Platostomus.  Lower  jaw  straight  with  a membrane 
between  the  lateral  lines.  Teeth  unequal  straight 
very  sharp  and  on  a single  row.  Breadth  of  the 
jaws  one  eighth  of  the  length.  Iris  large  and  gilt. 
Head  rough  nearly  square,  covered  with  six  broad 
plates,  two  of  which  on  each  side,  and  of  a fulvous 
grey  colour.  Body  cylindrical  covered  with  the 
usual  hard  scales  in  oblique  rows ; but  not  two  scales 
exactly  alike  either  in  shape  or  size ; they  are  gen- 
erally elongated  obliquely  with  the  two  longest 
lateral  sides  straight,  the  upper  one  concave  and  the 
lower  one  convex,  but  these  is  a row  of  obcordated 
ones  on  the  back.  All  the  fins  fulvous,  the  pectoral 
lanceolate  acute  with  12  rays,  the  abdominal  lanceo- 
late acute  and  with  only  6 rays.  Dorsal  and  anal 
trapezoidal  elongated,  serrated  by  scaly  rays  anteri- 
orly. Caudal  fins  with  12  rays,  one  sixth  of  total 
length,  covered  with  a few  large  black  spots,  of  a 
lanceolate  shape,  with  an  oblique  flexuose  base  decur- 
rent beneath  and  acute  at  the  end,  serrated  both 
upwards  and  downwards,  and  serratures  extending 
on  the  [III.  171]  body.  Lateral  line  not  obsolete, 


138 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


quite  straight,  but  raised  a little  upwards  at  the  base. 

89th  Species.  Longbill  Garfish.  Lepisosteus 
longirostris.  Lepisoste  longirostre. 

[75]  Esox  osseus.  Mitchill  in  Amer.  Monthly  Maga- 
zine, Vol.  2,  page  321. 

Upper  jaw  longer  than  the  lower  and  the  head  one 
fourth  of  total  length  and  narrow:  body  cylindrical, 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  with  8 rays,  abdominal  fins  with 
6,  tail  unspotted  nearly  truncate,  lateral  line  obsolete. 

I have  only  seen  the  head  of  this  fish,  which  was 
taken  in  the  Muskingum.  It  is  evidently  the  same 
fish  described  at  length  by  Dr.  Mitchill  under  the  old 
Linnean  name  of  Esox  osseus  and  found  in  Lake  Onei- 
da ; although  his  description  is  very  minute  in  some 
respects,  he  has  omitted  to  mention  the  colour  of  the 
body,  shape  of  the  fins,  and  many  other  peculiarities. 
I refer  to  his  description,  and  shall  merely  add  its 
most  striking  discrepancies  from  the  former  species. 
Length  forty  inches,  upper  jaw  ten  inches  with  two 
crooked  teeth  at  the  end,  lower  jaw  nine  inches,  teeth 
of  three  sizes  crowded  on  the  jaws.  Scales  rhom- 
boidal.  Abdominal  fins  nearly  medial.  Tail  with 
12  rays,  serrated  above  and  below. 

2d  Subgenus.  Atractosteus. 

Body  fusiform  or  spindle  shaped,  dorsal  and  anal 
fins  quite  opposite.  The  name  means  bony  spindle. 

90th  Species.  Alligator  Garfish.  Lepisosteus 
ferox.  Lepisoste  feroce. 

Jaws  nearly  equal,  as  long  as  the  head,  about  one 
eighth  of  tvytal  length  and  broad:  body  fusiform  and 
brownish;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  opposite,  tail  obliqual 
oval,  lateral  line  obsolete. 

This  is  a formidable  fish  living  in  the  Mississippi, 


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139 


principally  in  the  lower  parts,  also  in  Lake  Pontchar- 
train,  the  Mobile,  Red  River,  &c.  It  has  been  seen 
sometimes  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Ohio.  It  reaches 
the  length  of  eight  to  twelve  feet,  and  preys  upon  all 
other  fishes,  even  Gars  and  Alligators.  Mr.  John 
D.  Clifford  told  me  that  he  saw  one  of  them  fight 
with  an  alligator  five  feet  long  and  succeed  in  de- 
vouring him,  after  cutting  him  in  two  in  its  powerful 
jaws.  My  description  is  made  [III.  172]  from  a 
sketch  drawn  by  Mr.  Clifford,  and  a jaw  bone  pre- 
served in  his  Museum.  These  jaws  are  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches  long,  and  from  four  to  six  inches 
broad.  They  are  crowded  with  teeth,  unequally  set, 
not  two  of  which  are  alike  in  size,  [76]  the  largest  lie 
towards  the  end,  and  have  many  small  ones  between 
them : they  are  however  all  of  the  same  structure, 
implanted  in  sockets  and  conical,  base  grey,  striated 
and  hollow,  top  white  smooth,  curved  and  very 
sharp.  The  longest  measure  one  and  a half  inch, 
and  are  three  quarters  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  base. 
The  diameter  of  the  body  is  nearly  one  sixth  of  the 
total  length.  The  anal  and  dorsal  fins  are  small  and 
with  few  rays.  It  is  called  the  Alligator  fish  or  Alli- 
gator gar,  and  by  the  Louisianians  Poisson  Cayman. 
The  scales  are  large,  convex,  and  rhomboidal. 

XXIX  Genus.  Diamond  Fish.  Litholepis. 

Litholepe. 

Body  fusiform,  covered  with  hard  stony  pentaedral 
scales,  vent  nearly  medial.  Abdominal  fin  near  the 
vent.  One  dorsal  fin  opposite  to  the  anal.  Head 
bony  scaleless  protruded  anteriorly  in  a long  snout, 
mouth  beneath  the  head,  jaws  not  elongated,  with 
strong  unequal  teeth.  Opening  of  the  gills  very 


140 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENS1S 


large.  Tail  not  obliqual.  All  the  fins  with  rays. 

A very  singular  genus,  which  comes  very  near  to 
the  last  subgenus;  but  differs  by  the  snout,  mouth, 
tail,  scales,  &c.  It  must  belong  however  to  the 
same  family.  The  name  means  Stony  scales. 

91st  Species.  Devil-Jack  Diamond-fish.  Litho- 
lepis  adamantinus.  Litholepe  adamantin. 

Snout  obtuse  as  long  as  the  head;  head  one  fourth 
of  total  length ; body  fusiform  blackish : dorsal  and 
anal  fins  equal  and  with  many  rays:  tail  bilobed, 
lateral  line  obsolete. 

Litholepis  adamantinus . Raf.  in  American  Monthly 
Magazine,  1818,  Vol.  3,  p.  447,  and  in  Journal  de 
Physique  et  Hist.  Nat.  70  N.  G.  d’ Animaux,  G.  20. 

This  may  be  reckoned  the  wonder  of  the  Ohio. 
It  is  only  found  as  far  up  as  the  falls,  and  probably 
lives  also  in  the  Mississippi.  I have  seen  it,  but 
only  at  a distance,  and  have  been  shown  some  of  its 
singular  scales.  Wonderful  stories  are  related  con- 
cerning this  fish,  but  I have  principally  relied  upon 
[III.  173]  the  description  and  figure  given  me  by  Mr. 
Audubon.  Its  length  is  from  4 to  10  feet.  One  was 
caught  which  weighed  40olbs.  It  lies  sometimes 
asleep  or  motionless  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and 
may  be  mistaken  for  a log  or  a snag.  It  is  [77] 
impossible  to  take  it  in  any  other  way  than  with  the 
seine  or  a very  strong  hook,  the  prongs  of  the  gig 
cannot  pierce  the  scales,  which  are  as  hard  as  flint, 
and  also  proof  against  lead  balls!  Its  flesh  is  not 
good  to  eat.  It  is  a voracious  fish.  Its  vulgar  names 
are  Diamond-fish,  (owing  to  its  scales  being  cut  like 
diamonds,)  Devil-fish,  Jack-fish,  Gar-jack,  Devil-jack, 
&c.  The  snout  is  large,  convex  above,  very  obtuse, 
the  eyes  small  and  black,  nostrils  small  round  before 


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the  eyes,  transversal  with  large  angular  teeth.  Pec- 
toral and  abdominal  fi[n]s  trapezoidal.  Dorsal  and 
anal  fin  equal  longitudinal  with  many  rays.  Tail 
obtusely  and  regularly  bilobed.  The  whole  body 
covered  with  large  stony  scales  lying  in  oblique 
rows,  they  are  conical  pentagonal  and  pentaedral 
with  equal  sides,  from  half  an  inch  to  one  inch  in 
diameter,  brown  at  first,  but  becoming  of  the  colour 
of  turtle  shell  when  dry:  they  strike  fire  with  steel, 
and  are  ball  proof! 


142 


ICHTH YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


[III.  244]  THIRD  PART.—  APODIAL  FISHES. 

Having  complete  gills,  with  a gill  cover  and  a 
branchial  membrane.  No  lower  or  ventral  fins. 

[III.  245]  XXX.  Genus.  Eel.  Anguilla.  Anguille. 

Body  scaleless,  elongated.  Mouth  with  small  teeth. 
Pectoral  fins.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  very  long  and 
united  with  the  caudal  fins.  Vent  nearly  medial. 
Gill  covers  bridled. 

It  is  remarkable  that  there  is  only  this  apodial 
genus  of  fish,  and  not  a single  jugular  genus,  in  the 
Ohio,  while  there  are  so  many  abdominal  and  tho- 
racic genera.  The  Eels  of  the  Ohio  of  which  I have 
already  ascertained  four  species  belong  all  to  the 
subgenus  Conger,  having  the  jaws  nearly  equal  and 
obtuse.  They  are  permanent,  but  rare,  and  reach  a 
large  size.  They  are  taken  with  the  hook,  seines, 
&c.  They  feed  on  small  fishes,  shells,  and  lobsters, 
and  afford  a good  food. 

92d  Species.  Broadtail  Eel.  Anguilla  laticauda. 
Anguille  largequeue. 

Black  above,  white  beneath,  head  flattened,  jaws 
nearly  equal,  the  upper  somewhat  longer,  obtuse 
and  broad.  Dorsal  fin  beginning  above  the  pectorals, 
which  are  small  and  oboval:  late-  [7^]  ral  line  begin- 
ning before  the  pectorals;  tail  large  rounded  and 
dilatated. 

It  is  found  in  the  Ohio  in  deep  and  muddy  bot- 
toms. Length  from  two  to  four  feet.  Forehead 
sloping,  eyes  very  small.  Dorsal  fin  and  tail  bla^k. 


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One  individual  of  this  species  poisoned  once  slightly 
a whole  family,  causing  violent  colicks,  which  was 
ascribed  to  its  having  been  taken  in  the  vitriolic 
slate  rocks  of  Silver  creek  near  the  falls. 

93d  Species.  Black  Eel.  Anguilla  aterrima.  An- 
guille  noire. 

Entirely  black,  jaws  nearly  equal,  flat  and  obtuse: 
dorsal  fin  beginning  above  the  pectoral.  Tail  obtuse. 

This  species  is  found  in  the  Tennessee,  Cumber- 
land, &c.  It  differs  from  the  foregoing  by  being 
totally  black,  and  not  having  a broad  tail.  The  body 
is  also  somewhat  rounded.  It  reaches  the  same 
length.  Ver}^  good  to  eat. 

94th  Species.  Yellow-belly  Eel.  Anguilla  xan- 
thomelas.  Anguille  xanthromele. 

Black  above,  yellow  beneath,  jaws  nearly  equal, 
flat  and  obtuse ; dorsal  fin  beginning  over  the  pecto- 
rals. Tail  obtuse. 

This  species  is  also  very  much  like  A.  laticauda\ 
but  it  has  [III.  246]  not  the  broad  tail,  the  body  is 
thicker,  the  belly  yellow  and  thick  &c.  It  is  found 
but  seldom  as  high  as  Pittsburgh.  Length  two  or 
three  feet. 

95th  Species.  Yellow  Eel.  Anguilla  lutea. 
Anguille  jaune. 

Body  entirely  yellowish;  back  slightly  brownish; 
throat  pale:  jaws  nearly  equal,  obtuse,  dorsal  fin  be- 
ginning behind  the  pectorals : tail  obtuse,  marginated 
with  brown. 

It  is  found  in  the  Cumberland,  Green  River,  Lick- 
ing River,  &c.  Length  commonly  two  feet,  very 
good  to  eat.  The  lateral  line  begins  over  the 
pectorals,  while  the  dorsal  fin  begins  much  behind 
and  pretty  near  the  vent. 


144 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


FOURTH  PART.— ATELOSIAN  FISHES. 

Having  incomplete  gills,  without  a gill  cover,  or 
a branchial  membrane,  or  without  both. 

[yg\  XXXI.  Genus.  Sturgeon.  Accipenser. 

Eturgeon. 

A gill  cover  without  branchial  membrane.  Body- 
elongated  with  three  or  five  rows  of  large  bony 
scales.  Abdominal.  Vent  posterior.  One  dorsal 
and  one  anal  fin.  Tail  obliqual  and  unequal.  Mouth 
beneath  the  snout,  toothless,  retractible;  snout 
bearded  by  four  appendages  before  the  mouth. 

A very  interesting  and  extensive  genus,  inhabiting 
all  the  large  rivers  of  the  northern  hemisphere ; many 
species  are  anadromic  and  live  in  the  sea  in  the 
winter.  There  are  six  species  in  the  Ohio  and  its 
branches,  which  appear  very  early  in  the  spring,  and 
must  therefore  winter  in  the  deep  waters  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. They  are  all  good  to  eat  and  are  used  as 
food.  They  are  taken  with  the  seines  and  harpoons. 
They  spawn  in  the  Ohio,  &c.  Linneus,  Lacepede, 
Shaw,  and  Schneider  knew  very  few  species  of  this 
genus.  I have  proved,  in  a Monography,  that  it 
must  contain  about  40  species,  of  which  I have  ascer- 
tained 20.  Seven  of  them  belong  to  the  Old  Conti- 
nent; 1.  A.  sturio,  Linneus.  2.  A.  huso , L.  3 .A. 
ruthenus , L.  4 .A.  Stellatus , L.  5 .A.  lichtensteini , 
Schn.  6.  A.  lutescens,  Raf.  7.  A.  attilus,  Raf. ; 
while  thirteen  are  peculiar  to  North  America;  8.  A. 
atlanticus , Raf.  (A.  sturio , MitchillV  9.  A.  oxyrin- 


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145 


chus,  Mitchill.  io.  A.  rubicundus , Lesueur.  11.  A. 
muricatus,  Raf.  [III.  247]  (var.  prec.  Lesueur.)  12. 
A.  marginatus,  Raf.  13.  A.  brevirostrum,  Les.  (His 
three  varieties  are  probably  distinct  species.)  14.  A. 
hudsonius,  Raf. ; besides  the  six  following  ones. 

1st  Subgenus.  Sturio. 

Five  rows  of  scales  on  the  body,  one  dorsal,  two 
lateral,  and  two  abdominal. 

96th  Species.  Spotted  Sturgeon.  Accipenser 
maculosus.  Eturgeon  tachete. 

A.  maculosus.  Lesueur  in  Transactions  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society;  New  Series  vol  1, 
page  393. 

Head  one  fourth  of  total  length  channelled  between 
the  eyes,  which  are  oblong,  snout  elongated  obtuse. 
Body  pentagonal  olive,  with  black  spots  and  small 
asperities:  13  dorsal  scales,  lateral  rows  with  35 
scales,  abdominal  rows  with  10. 

It  is  found  in  the  Ohio  as  far  as  Pittsburgh.  Size 
small,  not  exceeding  two  feet.  Mouth  and  pectoral 
fins  large.  Scales  \8o]  rugose,  radiated,  keeled  and 
spinescent  behind.  Iris  yellow  oblong.  See  Le- 
sueur’s  description. 

97th  Species.  Shovelfish  Sturgeon.  Accipenser 
platorynchus.  Eturgeon  pelle. 

Head  one  fifth  of  total  length,  flattened,  snout  flat 
oval,  hardly  obtuse,  rough  above,  eyes  round.  Body 
pentagonal  smooth,  pale  fulvous  above,  white  be- 
neath. Tail  elongated  mucronate:  16  dorsal  scales, 
lateral  rows  with  40,  abdominal  rows  with  12. 

A singular  species,  very  common  in  the  Ohio,  Wa- 
bash, and  Cumberland  in  the  spring  and  summer, 
but  seldom  reaching  as  high  as  Pittsburgh.  It  ap- 
pears in  shoals  in  March,  and  disappears  in  August. 


146 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


It  is  very  good  to  eat  and  bears  many  names,  such 
as  Spade-fish,  Shovel-fish,  Shovel-head,  Flat-head, 
Flat-nose,  &c.  having  reference  to  the  shape  of  its 
head,  which  is  flattened  somewhat  like  a spade.  It 
is  also  found  in  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri,  where 
the  French  call  it  La  pelle  or  Poison  pelle , which  has 
the  same  meaning.  Size  from  two  to  three  feet, 
greatest  weight  20  lb.  Body  rather  slender,  with 
small  bluish  dots  on  the  back  and  whitish  on  the 
sides.  Dorsal  scales  brownish,  radiated,  punctuated, 
and  spinescent.  Lateral  scales  dimidiated,  serrated 
behind,  the  posterior  smaller:  the  abdominal  nearly 
similar,  hardly  serrated.  Two  nostrils  on  each  side 
[III.  248]  before  the  eyes,  the  posterior  larger  oblong 
obliqual.  Eyes  round  black,  iris  coppered.  Mouth 
with  eight  lobes  and  verrucose.  Tail  very  long,  one 
fifth  of  total  length,  the  upper  lobe  scaly  above, 
slender  and  with  a long  filiform  terminal  process. 
All  the  fins  trapezoidal,  the  dorsal  falcated  with  25 
rays  and  nearly  opposite  to  the  anal.  Pectoral  large 
45  rays.  Abdominal  20.  Anal  14.  Tail,  inferior 
lobe  18,  superior  60. 

2d  Subgenus.  Sterletus. 

Only  three  rows  of  scales,  one  dorsal  and  two  lat- 
eral. 

98th  Species.  Fall  Sturgeon.  Accipenser  seroti- 
mus.  Eturgeon  tardif. 

Head  conical  two  ninths  of  total  length,  snout  short 
obtuse,  eyes  somewhat  oblong.  Body  cylindrical 
entirely  fulvous  brown,  belly  white.  Tail  short  and 
truncate  obliquely.  Dorsal  scales  17,  two  of  which 
behind  the  dorsal  fin,  lateral  rows  with  about  30 
scales. 


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147 


[<?/]  A large  species  reaching  5 and  6 feet  in  length. 
It  appears  in  June  and  disappears  in  November,  but 
is  seldom  caught,  except  in  the  fall,  when  attempting 
to  go  down  the  river.  It  is  sometimes  caught  in  the 
Kentucky  as  late  as  November.  It  affords  a toler- 
ably good  food.  Snout  very  short  yet  somewhat 
attenuated,  barbs  brown,  eyes  nearly  round,  head 
with  a depression  above,  lips  very  thick.  Scales 
radiated  knobby  behind.  Pectoral  and  anal  fin  some- 
what oboval,  the  abdominal  and  dorsal  trapezoidal. 

99th  Species.  Ohio  Sturgeon.  Accipenser  ohiensis. 
Eturgeon  de  l’Ohio. 

Head  conical  one  fifth  of  total  length,  snout  slop- 
ing short  nearly  acute,  eyes  round.  Body  cylin- 
drical rough  olivaceous,  fulvous,  belly  white.  Tail 
short  lunulate  falcate.  Dorsal  scales  14  carinated, 
the  lateral  rows  with  34  dimidiated  and  un[e]qual. 

Somewhat  similar  to  the  foregoing.  Length  from 
three  to  four  feet.  Found  as  far  as  Pittsburgh,  comes 
in  the  spring,  and  goes  away  in  September.  Head 
convex  above,  with  a protuberance  on  the  top.  All 
the  fins  trapezoidal  but  somewhat  falcate.  The  tail 
remarkably  so,  and  obliquely  lunulate,  the  lobes  not 
divided  by  a notch  as  usual  in  the  other  species.  It 
has  been  [III.  249]  mentioned  by  Lesueur  as  a 
variety  of  his  A.  rubicundus , page  390  of  the  Trans. 
Am.  Phil.  Society,  but  it  differs  widely  from  it. 

100th  Species.  Bigmouth  STURGEON.  Accipenser 
macrostomus.  Eturgeon  beant. 

Head  one  fourth  of  total  length,  snout  elongated, 
somewhat  flattened,  eyes  round.  Body  cylindrical 
deep  brown  above,  white  beneath.  Tail  elongated ; 
about  20  dorsal  scales,  several  between  the  dorsal 
and  anal  fin,  about  30  scales  in  each  lateral  row. 


148 


ICHTHY0L0G1A  OHIENSIS 


I have  not  seen  this  species,  but  Mr.  Audubon 
has  communicated  me  a drawing  of  it.  It  is  only- 
found  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Ohio,  and  reaches  four 
feet  in  length.  Good  food.  Mouth  large  gaping, 
hanging  down,  retractible.  Gill  cover  oblong. 
Tail  slender,  the  lower  lobe  very  small.  Fins 
trape-  [&?]  zoidal,  the  dorsal  and  anal  somewhat  fal- 
cated and  more  distant  from  the  tail  than  usual. 
Lateral  scales  dimidiated. 

XXXII  Genus.  Double  fin.  Dinectus.  Dinecte. 

Differs  from  Sturgeon,  by  having  two  dorsal  and 
no  abdominal  fins.  First  dorsal  anterior,  the  second 
opposed  to  the  anal.  Three  rows  of  scales  as  in 
Sterlet  us. 

This  genus  rests  altogether  upon  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Audubon,  who  has  presented  me  a drawing  of 
the  only  species  belonging  to  it.  It  appears  very 
distinct  if  his  drawing  be  correct ; but  it  requires  to 
be  examined  again.  Is  it  only  a Sturgeon  incor- 
rectly drawn? 

ioist  Species.  Flatnose  Doublefin.  Dinectus 
truncatus.  Dinecte  camus. 

Head  one  fifth  of  total  length,  conical,  snout  very 
short  truncated,  eyes  round.  Body  cylindrical  deep 
brown  above,  silvery  white  beneath,  tail  elongated : 
dorsal  scales,  4 before  the  first  dorsal  fin,  6 between 
the  fins,  and  4 behind  the  second,  lateral  rows  with 
about  30  small  dimidiated  scales. 

This  fish  was  taken  with  the  seine  near  Henderson- 
ville in  the  spring  of  1818  by  Mr.  Audubon.  Length 
two  feet,  skin  very  thick  and  leathery.  Mouth  very 
large  and  hanging  down  as  in  the  foregoing,  some- 
what like  a proboscis.  Pectoral  and  anal  fins 


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trapezoidal,  dorsal  fins  nearly  triangular,  the  first 
larg-  [III.  250]  er  and  standing  immediately  behind 
the  pectoral.  Gill  cover  rounded.  Tail  somewhat 
forked,  the  upper  lobe  thrice  as  long  as  the  lower. 
Four  long  white  barbs,  very  near  the  end  of  the 
snout,  eyes  above  the  mouth. 

XXXIII  Genus.  Spadefish.  Polyodon.  Polyodon. 

Differs  from  Sturgeon,  by  having  a transversal 
mouth  with  teeth,  no  barbs  and  no  scales.  Snout 
protruded  in  a long  flat  process,  gill  cover  elongated 
by  a membra[na]ceous  appendage. 

This  singular  genus  was  first  described  by  Lace- 
pede.  It  belongs  to  the  family  of  Sturionia,  along 
with  the  two  foregoing  and  the  following.  Only  one 
species  is  known  as  yet. 

io2d  Species.  Western  Spadefish.  Polyodon 
folium.  Polyodon  feuille. 

Head  longer  than  the  body,  snout  as  long  as  the 
head,  cunei-  \_83~]  form  obtuse  thin  and  veined  with 
one  main  nerve.  Brown  above,  white  beneath. 

Squalus sJmthula~La.CQ-p ■ Pcfiss.  1,  p.  403,  tab.  12,  fig.  3. 

Polyodon  folium  Lacep.  and  Auct.  mod. 

Spatularia.  Schneider’s  Ichthyology. 

This  singular  fish  has  often  been  described  and 
figured,  but  I have  not  seen  a single  figure  of  it 
perfectly  correct.  It  is  a rare  fish,  occasionally  seen 
in  the  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Ohio,  &c.  It  disappears 
in  winter.  I saw  several  at  the  falls  in  September 
1818.  It  is  caught  in  the  seines  and  sometimes  bites 
at  the  hook.  It  is  not  eaten.  Length  from  one  to 
three  feet.  I shall  add  an  exact  description  of  it. 
An  oblong  redish  spot  at  the  base  of  the  snout,  which 
is  brown  and  membranaceous,  with  a thick  cartila- 
ginous nerve  in  the  middle  and  many  veins,  broader 


150 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


and  obtuse  at  the  end.  Eyes  round  small  black,  be- 
fore the  mouth,  a small  nostril  in  front  of  them. 
Mouth  large,  similar  to  that  of  a shark,  with  small 
crowded  teeth  on  the  jaws  and  the  tongue,  this  is 
large  thick  and  similar  to  a file.  Gill  cover  very 
long  membranaceous  reaching  the  abdominal  fins. 
A lateral  line  following  the  curve  of  the  back.  All 
the  fins  brown,  nearly  rhomboidal,  with  an  obliqual 
redish  band,  and  a multitude  of  small  crowded  rays, 
inserted  on  a thick  fleshy  lump : the  dorsal  fin  larger 
and  rather  more  anterior  than  the  anal.  Tail  very 
obliqual,  serrated  above:  lobes  not  very  differ-  [III. 
251]  ent  in  size,  but  extremely  in  shape  and  situation, 
the  lower  one  broader,  shorter,  and  nearly  triangular. 

XXXIV  Genus.  Paddlefish.  Planirostra. 

Planirostre. 

Differs  from  Polyodon,  by  having  no  teeth  whatever 
and  the  gill-cover  radiated  with  a short  appendage. 

By  the  want  of  teeth  this  genus  is  intermediate  be- 
tween Polyodon  and  Accipenser . It  was  first  described 
by  Lesueur,  under  the  name  of  Platirostra  (by 
mistake)  instead  of  Planirostra.  I had  called  it  in 
manuscript  Megarhinus  paradoxus. 

103d  Species.  Toothless  Paddlefish.  Plani- 
7iostra  edentula.  Planirostre  edente. 

Head  as  long  as  the  body,  snout  longer  than  the 
head,  somewhat  cuneiform,  obtuse,  and  thin,  with 
two  longitudinal  nerves  [<£/]  and  reticulated  veins 
forming  an  hexagonal  network.  Body  entirely  olive 
brown. 

Platinostra  edentula,  Lesueur  in  Journ.  Ac.  Nat.  Sc. 
Philadelphia,  Volume  1,  page  229. 

This  fish  is  still  more  rare  than  the  foregoing,  but 


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found  occasionally  as  far  as  Pittsburgh.  It  is  larger, 
reaching  from  3 to  5 feet  and  5olbs  weight.  Not 
very  good  to  eat.  It  has  been  so  fully  described  by 
Lesueur,  that  I need  not  do  it  again.  The  individ- 
ual which  I saw  was  40  inches  long,  head  20  inches, 
snout  1 1 inches  long  and  2 y2  wide  at  the  end,  hardly 
cun[e]iform.  Eyes  exceedingly  small  and  round. 
Gill  cover  oval  radiated  as  in  the  Sturgeons,  with  a 
short  membranaceous  flap,  reaching  only  beyond  the 
pectoral  fins,  &c.  It  is  also  called,  along  with  the 
foregoing,  Oar  fish  and  Spatula  fish. 

XXXV  Genus.  Lamprey.  Petromyzon.  Lamproie. 

Body  cylindrical  scaleless,  vent  posterior.  Two 
dorsal  fins  and  a caudal  fin,  no  other  fins.  Seven 
branchial  round  holes  on  each  side  of  the  neck. 
Mouth  terminal  inferior  acutiform,  toothed. 

There  are  two  or  three  species  of  Lampreys  in  the 
Ohio ; but  they  are  very  scarce  and  I have  only  seen 
one  as  yet. 

104th  Species.  Black  Lamprey.  Petromyzon  ni- 
grum. Lamproie  noire. 

Entirely  blackish,  tail  oval  acute,  second  dorsal 
over  the  vent,  several  rows  of  teeth. 

[III.  252]  A very  small  species,  from  four  to  five 
inches  long;  it  is  found  as  high  as  Pittsburgh.  Dor- 
sal fins  shallow,  and  distant  from  each  other  and  the 
tail.  Eyes  round  and  large.  Branchial  holes  small. 
No  lateral  line.  Mouth  oval,  teeth  white  and  yel- 
low. It  torments  sometimes  the  Buffaloe  fish  and 
Sturgeons,  upon  which  it  fastens  itself.  It  is  never 
found  in  sufficient  quantity  to  be  used  as  food. 


End  of  the  Fishes. 


152 


ICHTH  YOLOGIA  OH  IE  NS/S 


[#]  Supplement 

The  Ichthyology  of  the  River  Ohio  was  begun  to 
be  printed  in  the  Western  Review  in  December  1819, 
and  has  been  continued  gradually  until  November 
1820.  During  the  course  of  the  impression  some 
new  species  have  been  discovered,  or  ascertained, 
which  I now  propose  to  notice. 

THORACIC  FISHES. 

XXXVI  Genus.  Springfish.  Pegedictis.  Pegedicte. 

Body  conical  with  small  scales,  belly  flat,  vent 
medial.  Head  broad  scaleless,  gill  cover  with  a 
membranaceous  appendage  and  a concealed  spine, 
mouth  toothed.  Two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  with 
simple,  soft,  semi-spinescent  rays.  Thoracic  fins 
with  five  rays. 

This  new  genus  belongs  to  the  family  Percidia,  and 
has  many  affinities  with  the  G.  Holocentrus  Lepomis, 
Etheostoma,  & c.  but  its  conical  form  and  many  other 
secondary  peculiarities  distinguish  it  completely. 
The  name  means  Fountain-fish. 

105th  Species.  Catseye  Springfish.  Pegedictis 
ictalops.  Pegedicte  aeuil  de  chat. 

Jaws  equal,  forehead  knobby,  eyes  elliptical. 
Body  olivaceous  with  some  black  transversal  unequal 
brown  bands;  a concealed  spine  on  the  gill  cover: 
lateral  line  straight:  tail  elliptical.  The  first  dorsal 
fin  with  8 rays,  the  second  with  12,  as  well  as  the 
anal  and  pectoral  fins. 

I have  discovered  this  species  in  the  summer  of 


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1820  near  Lexington.  It  has  no  vulgar  name. 
Length  hardly  two  inches.  Head  large  brown,  con- 
vex above  with  several  small  knobs  on  the  forehead, 
flat  beneath.  Eyes  as  in  the  Catfishes  with  oblong 
eyes,  iris  gilt  brown.  Spine  of  the  gill  cover 

concealed  under  the  skin.  Teeth  small  and  acute. 
Pectoral  fins  large  lanceolate.  Belly  wdiite  and  flat. 
Fins  hyalin  with  some  brown  spots.  Five  transversal 
bands.  The  specific  name  means  Catseye. 

9th  Genus.  Etheostoma. 

106th  Species.  Springs  Hogfish.  Etheostoma 
fontinalis.  Etheostome  des  fontaines. 

Body  oblong  cylindrical,  breadth  one  sixth  of  the 
length,  olivaceous,  sides  with  transversal  brown 
lines  somewhat  curved:  a small  round  black  spot 
behind  the  gill  cover;  lateral  line  obsolete.  Jaws 
obtuse,  the  upper  one  shorter.  Tail  oboval  entire 
gilt  tesselated  with  black.  First  dorsal  with  8 rays, 
the  second  and  anal  with  12. 

A little  species,  from  one  to  two  inches  long,  found 
in  the  springs  and  caves  near  Lexington  in  the  sum- 
mer. It  belongs  to  the  subgenus  Diplesio?i.  Body 
cylindrical  somewhat  compressed.  Head  small  flat 
above : gill  cover  attenuated  behind  \_86~]  obtuse  and 
with  a spine.  Eyes  small,  iris  gilt.  Dorsal  fins 
joining,  the  first  with  spiny  rays  appendiculated, 
second  with  soft  rays,  anal  fin  opposed  to  it  and  with 
two  spiny  rays.  Pectoral  lanceolate  with  12  rays, 
thoracic  lanceolate  with  6.  Vent  anterior. 

ABDOMINAL  FISHES. 

17th  Genus.  Semotilus. 

107th  Species.  Silverspotted  Chubby.  Semoti- 
lus? notatus.  Semotile  tache. 


154 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Breadth  one  sixth  of  the  length,  brownish,  pale 
beneath ; head  small  obtuse  with  a large  silver  spot 
on  the  forehead  before  the  eyes,  jaws  nearly  equal; 
dorsal  fin  opposed  to  the  anal,  tail  oboval  entire. 

It  is  found  in  the  Cumberland  River,  and  the  Little 
River,  a branch  of  it.  Communicated  by  Mr.  Wil- 
kins. It  is  rather  doubtful  whether  it  belongs  to 
this  genus,  or  Minnilus,  Rutilus,  Sec.  It  might  per- 
haps be  found  to  constitute  a peculiar  one  by  the 
small  mouth  without  lips,  and  the  posterior  dorsal 
fin.  Vent  posterior.  Pectoral  and  abdominal  fins 
oboval.  Eyes  large.  Length  three  inches,  good 
bait  for  Perch,  Bass,  Redeyes  or  Ringeyes,  &c. 

26th  Genus.  Sarchirus. 

108th  Species.  Silver  Ribbonfish.  Sarchirus? 
argenteus.  Sarchire  argente. 

Entirely  silvery,  without  bands  or  spots. 

Communicated  by  Mr.  Owings.  It  is  found  in 
Licking  River,  Slate  Creek,  &c.  Length  from  two 
to  three  feet.  It  is  called  Pike  and  may  be  one,  but 
as  it  is  described  without  scales  and  very  slender, 
I have  added  it  to  this  genus,  until  it  is  better 
known. 

ATELOSIAN  FISHES. 

31st  G.  Accipenser. 

109th  Species.  Gourdfish  Sturgeon.  Accipeyiser 
lagenarius.  Eturgeon  gourde. 

Snout  attenuated  obtuse  like  a gourd,  body  entirely 
brown. 

A species  of  Sturgeon  which  I have  never  seen, 
is  said  to  live  in  the  Ohio,  which  is  called  Gourdfish 
owing  to  its  head  having  the  shape  of  a gourd,  of 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXT 


155 


which  the  snout  represents  the  neck.  It  reaches  two 
and  three  feet  in  length. 

XXXVII  Genus.  Sawfish.  Pristis.  Poisson-Scie. 

Abdominal,  with  five  branchial  spiracles  on  each 
side,  body  cylindrical,  tail  obliqual,  head  protruded 
in  a long  saw. 

This  genus  belongs  to  the  family  of  Sharks  or 
Antacea. 

i ioth  Species.  Mississippi  Sawfish.  Pristis  Mis- 
sissippiensis.  Poisson-Scie  du  Mississippi. 

Saw  thicker  in  the  middle  where  it  has  two  longi- 
tudinal furrows;  margin  somewhat  sinuated  with 
transversal  depressions,  26  long  and  narrow  acute 
teeth  on  each  side,  alternating  with  \_8f\  the  depres- 
sions: extremity  of  the  saw  rounded  nearly  truncate, 
with  a raised  granular  margin  reflected  upwards. 

I have  only  seen  the  saw  of  this  fish,  which  is 
preserved  in  Mr.  Clifford’s  museum.  It  is  six  and  a 
half  inches  long,  and  one  broad,  olivaceous  above, 
pale  beneath,  middle  part  raised  but  flat.  Teeth  half 
an  inch  long,  shorter  and  more  distant  near  the  base, 
26  on  the  right  and  27  on  the  left,  nearly  equal. 
This  fish  is  found  in  the  Mississippi,  Lake  Pontchar- 
train,  Red  River,  Arkansas,  Mobile,  and  has  even 
been  seen  in  the  Ohio,  length  from  three  to  six  feet. 

XXXVIII  Genus.  Hornfish:  Proceros.  Proceros. 

Apodal.  Body  elongated.  Vent  posterior.  One 
dorsal  fin  opposed  to  the  anal.  Mouth  beneath  trans- 
versal toothed.  Snout  protruded  in  a straight  horn. 
Four  spiracles  or  branchias  on  each  side. 

Singular  new  genus  of  the  family  of  Sharks  or 
Antacea , from  which  however  it  differs  by  the  want  of 


156 


ICHTHYO  LOG  I A OHIENSIS 


abdominal  fins.  There  are  two  species  of  it : the 
second,  which  I have  called  Proceros  vittatus,  lives  in 
Lake  Ontario,  and  has  longitudinal  stripes. 

1 1 ith  Species.  SPOTTED  Hornfish.  Proceros  ma- 
culatus.  Proceros  tachete. 

Iron  gray  with  white  spots  on  the  sides:  tail 
forked : horn  one  fourth  of  total  length. 

This  fish  lives  in  the  Mississippi,  and  is  sometimes 
caught  at  St.  Genevieve  in  the  State  of  Missouri. 
The  French  settlers  call  it  Poisson  arme.  It  has  no 
scales,  but  its  head  is  bony:  Eyes  very  small.  Dor- 

sal and  anal  fins  rounded.  Length  two  or  three 
feet,  very  good  to  eat.  Communicated  by  Mr.  M — - — 
of  St.  Genevieve. 

Several  imperfect  and  incorrect  notices  or  Cata- 
logues of  fishes  living  in  the  western  waters  have 
been  published.  Carver  and  Pike  have  noticed  those 
of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  Curtis  those  of  Red  River, 
Pike  those  of  the  Arkansas  and  Osage  rivers,  Thomas 
those  of  the  Wabash,  and  Lewis  and  Clarke  those  of 
the  Missouri ; but  very  few  practical  facts  can  be 
collected  from  their  imperfect  accounts,  except  per- 
haps from  the  two  latter  travellers.  I may  at  a future 
period  notice  the  new  fishes  of  the  Missouri,  discov- 
ered by  Lewis  and  Clarke.  I shall  at  present  merely 
add  some  facts  lately  ascertained  or  drawn  from 
Thomas’s  account  of  the  fishes  of  the  River  Wabash, 
page  2 r i of  his  travels  published  in  1819. 

2d  Sp.  Perea  chrysops,  is  found  in  the  Wabash,  and 
called  Rock-mullet,  it  reaches  three  feet  in  length 
and  fifteen  pounds  in  weight.  This  fish  will  not 
bite  at  the  hook,  unless  when  it  is  withdrawn,  it  then 
darts  on  it. 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXT 


157 


4th  Sp.  Amblodon  grunniens.  It  is  sometimes 
called  Drum  in  the  Wabash. 

[<?<?]  14th  Sp.  Lepomis  flexuolaris.  Mr.  Wilkins  has 
informed  me  that  this  fish  watches  over  its  spawn, 
and  prevents  any  small  fish  from  coming  near  it: 
while  thus  employed  it  will  not  bite  at  the  hook,  but 
endeavours  to  drive  away  the  bait.  It  is  common  in 
all  the  tributary  streams  of  the  Ohio,  also  in  the 
Arkansas,  Osage,  Missouri,  &c. 

19th  Sp.  Aplocentrus  calliops.  Found  in  the  Cum- 
berland, Tennessee,  Little  River,  &c.  and  called 
Redeyes  or  Ringeyes. 

63d  Sp.  Catostomus  erythrurus.  In  the  Wabash, 
weighing  as  far  as  1 5 pounds. 

71st  Sp.  Pimelodus  pallidus.  It  is  called  Wal-heu  or 
Deep  water  fish  by  the  Lenape  Indians.  The  other 
Catfishes  are  generally  called  Wi-sa-meek  by  the  same 
Indians,  which  means  Fat  fish.  The  names  of  Pout 
and  Bullheads  are  given  to  some  species  in  the 
Wabash,  Miami,  Mississippi,  &c.  The  French  settlers 
call  them  Barbottes. 

84th  Sp.  Esox  vittatus.  Thomas  mentions  three 
kinds  of  Pikes  found  in  the  Wabash,  1,  River  Pike, 
2.  Pond  Pike,  slim,  three  feet  long,  excellent,  3.  Jack 
Pike  or  Pickerel,  excellent,  weighing  from  5 to 
2olbs. 

89th  Species.  Lepisosteus  longirostris.  Common  in 
the  Wabash,  called  Gar  or  Billfish,  two  feet  long  and 
quite  slim ; bill  six  inches  and  pointed.  It  is  a strong 
fish.  Thomas  says  that,  having  caught  them  in  his 
hands,  he  was  unable  to  hold  them. 


158 


ICH TH YOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Corrections  and  Additions 

Some  trivial  errors  or  omissions  of  the  press  have 
occurred,  which  may  be  easily  detected ; but  the  fol- 
lowing, being  more  important,  deserve  correction. 

Page  15,  line  5,  Pittsburgh  had  only  8000  inhabit- 
ants by  the  census  of  1820,  and  Cincinnati  about  9000. 

Page  19,  1.  22.  The  Cumberland  has  a fine  fall 
in  Kentucky  near  Monticello. 

Page  21.  Perea  salmonea  add  Raf.  1818  in  Amer. 
Month.  Mag.  V.  3,  p.  354 

Page  29,  1.  1,  Enythrops  read  Erytlirops. 

Page  34,  1.  17,  add  Bodianus  calliops , Raf.  1818, 
Am  M Mag  V 3,  p 457. 

Page  38,  1.  4,  add  Sciena  caprodes,  Raf.  1818  in  Am 
M Mag  3,  p 334. 

Page  40,  1.  2,  add  Clupea  heterurus,  Raf.  1818,  in 
Am  M Mag  3.  P 355 

Page  42,  1.  18,  add  Glossodon  heteriirus,  Raf.  in 
Am  M Mag  3,  p 354. 

Page  43,  1.  2,  add  Glossodon  harengoides , Raf.  in 
Am  M Mag  3,  p 354. 

Page  43,  1.  35,  Elyodon  Clodalus  read  Hyodon  ter- 
gisus. 

Page  45,  1.  28,  Minulus  read  Minnilus. 

Page  49,  1.  35,  Senotilus  read  Semotilus 

Page  50,  1.  10,  Diplemia  read  Diplemins. 

Page  52,  1.  27,  Flat-head  read  Fat-head. 

Page  55,  1.  21,  add  Raf.  1818,  in  American  Monthly 
Mag.  3,  p 355. 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXT 


159 


Page  59,  1.  5,  add  Raf.  1818  in  American  Monthly- 
Magazine,  3 p 355. 

Page  62,  1.  21,  add  Silurus  punctatus,  Raf.  1818  in 
Am  M Mag  3,  p 355. 

Page  64,  1.  36,  add  Silurus  olivaris,  Raf  1818  in 
Am  M Mag  3 p 355. 

Page  77,  add  to  Anguilla  laticauda,  Raf  1818  in 
Am  M Mag  3 p 447. 


160 


ICHTH YOL  OGIA  OHIENSIS 


[*p]  INDEX 

of  Scientific  Names 


*Accipenser 

Genus  31. 

Atnblodon  . 

. . 2. 

A mbloplites  . 

• • 5- 

Ameiurus  . . 

. .22. 

Amphiodon 

. . 13. 

* Anguilla  . 

• • 30. 

A plites  . . . 

• • 5- 

Aplesion  . . 

. . 9. 

Aplocentrus 

• • 7- 

Aplodinotus  . 

. . 2. 

Atractosteus  . 

. . 18. 

Calliurus  . . 

• • 3- 

Carpiodes  . . 

. . 20. 

*Catostomus. 

. . 20. 

Chrosomus 

. . 16. 

Clodalus  . . 

. . 13. 

Cycleptus  . . 

. . 21. 

Cylindrosteus 

. . 28. 

Dinectus  . . 

. . 32. 

Diop  lit  es  . . 

• • 5- 

Diplesion  . . 

. . 9. 

Dorosoma 

. .11. 

Decactylus 

. . 20. 

Elliops  . . . 

. . 22. 

*Esox  . . . 

. . 27. 

INDEX 

of  American  Names 

Alligator  fish  Species  86, 


90. 

Backtail  . . Genus  24. 
Baitfish  . . Sp.  47,  &c. 

Barbot 20. 

Barbotte  ....  G.  22. 
Bass  Sp.  2, 3,  12,  13,  14,  &c. 

Billfish Sp.  89. 

Blackears  1 1 . 

Blackhead 52. 

Bluefish 7,  8. 

Bubbler 4. 

Buffaloe  fish  . . 55,  56. 
Carp  ....  53,  54,  57. 

Catfish G.  22. 

Chub  . . Sp.-39,  40,  41. 
Diamondfish  . . G.  29. 

Eel 30. 

Fallfish 18. 

Fantail Sp.  22. 

Fat-head  . . . , G.  19. 

Garfish  28. 

Gizzard 1 1 . 

Goldeyes  ....  Sp.  2. 
Gold  herring  . . G.  12. 
Goldhead  . . . Sp.  40. 


REPRINT  OF  ORIGINAL  TEXI 


161 


Etheostoma 

. 9.  Goldring  . . 

. . G.  18. 

Eurystomus  . 

. 20.  Goldshad 

....  10. 

Exoglossum  . 

.25.  Herring  . . 

Sp.  28  — 33. 

Glossodon  . . 

. 13.  Hogfish  . . 

. . . G.  9. 

*Hyodon  . . 

. 13.  Hornfish  . . 

....  38. 

Hypentelium 

.25.  Jack  Sp.  84, 

86,  91,  &c. 

Ictalurus  . . 

.22.  Lamprey 

• • G.  35. 

Ichthelis  . . 

. 4.  Minnies  or  Minnows  G.  15, 

Ictiobus  . . . 

. 20. 

Sp.  21,  &c. 

*Labrus  . . 

. 4.  Mudcat  . . 

. Sp.  7 9,  80 

Lepibema  . . 

. 2.  Giuil-blanc.  . 

....  20. 

*Lepisosteus 

. 28.  Paddlefish  . 

• - G.  34. 

Lepomis  . . 

. 5.  Painted  tail 

. . . Sp.  5. 

Leptops  . . . 

. 22.  Perch  . .2, 

3.  4.  13,  18. 

Litliolepis  . 

. 29.  Piconeau  . . 

....  55. 

[po]  Luxilus 

Genus  16.  Pike  . . . 

. . G.  27. 

Minnilus  . . 

. 15.  Poisson  arme 

. . G.  38. 

Moxostoma  . 

. 20.  Poisson  cayman  . . .28. 

Nemocampsis 

. 5.  Poisson  lunette.  . . . 20. 

Notemigonus 

. 12.  Pucker  . . 

....  22. 

Noturus  . . 

. 24.  Redbelly 

. . Sp.  1 1. 

Pegedictis  . 

. 36.  Redeyes  . . 

...  9,  19. 

*Perca  . . . 

. 1.  R.edfish  . . 

• • 50,  5 1 • 

*Petromyzon 

.35.  Red  horse  ) 

....  63. 

*Pimelodus  . 

. 22.  Red  tail  j 

Pimephales  . 

. 19.  Ribbonfish  . 

. . G.  26. 

*Planirostra 

. 34.  Salmon  . . 

. . . Sp.  1. 

Pogostoma  . 

. 8.  Sawfish  . . 

. . G.  37. 

Polyodon 

. 33.  Shad  . . . 

Sp.  26,  27. 

Pomolobus  . 

. 10.  Shiner  . . . 

. . G.  16. 

Pomotis  . . . 

. 4.  Skimback  . 

Sp.  43,  58. 

Pomoxis  . . 

. 6.  Silverfish  . 

. . 46,  &c. 

*Pristis . . . 

. 37.  Shovelfish  . 

• • G.  33. 

Proceros  . . 

. 38.  Springsfish 

....  36. 

162 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Pylodictis 23.  Sturgeon 31. 

Rutilus 18.  Sucker 20 

*Salmo  14.  Suckrel 21. 

Sarchirus 26.  Sunfish  Sp.  6 to  12,  20. 

Semotilus 17.  Toadfish 80. 

*Scinia 2.  Toter G.  25. 

Sierletus 31.  Trout  . . Sp.  15,34,  35. 

Stizostedion 1.  Whiteyes 20. 

Sturio 31. 

Telipomis  ......  4. 

Teretulus 20. 

N.  B.  The  names  with  asterisks  are  old  generic 
names:  those  in  italics  are  new  subgenera,  or  French 
names  in  the  second  column. 


Bibliographia  Ichthyologia 


Bibliography 


The  publications  by  Rafmesque  relating  to  fishes 
are  widely  scattered  both  in  point  of  time  and  place. 
They  began  in  the  year  1810,  at  Palermo,  Sicily,  and 
ended  at  Philadelphia,  in  1832.  His  published  work 
comprises  thirty- three  titles,  some  of  which  are  exten- 
sive contributions  to  ichthyology.  Others  of  the 
titles  herein  listed  are  very  brief  notes,  and  have  little 
value  other  than  to  serve  as  an  index  to  the  constant 
activity  of  the  mind  of  this  remarkable  man.  Rafi- 
nesque  never  quite  abandoned  his  early  love,  though 
most  of  his  published  work  on  fishes  dates  about  the 
years  1818  to  1823.  For  the  rest  he  was  occupied 
with  botanical  and  other  pursuits. 

The  list  which  follows  is  believed  to  comprise  all 
the  works,  and  parts  of  works,  issued  by  Rafmesque, 
which  have  any  relation  to  ichthyology. 

1.  Caratteri  | di  alcuni  nuovi  generi  [ e nuovi 
specie  | di  animali  | e piante  della  Sicilia  | con  varie 

osservazioni  sopra  i medesimi.  | | Opuscolo  | 

del  Sig.  C.  S.  Rafmesque  Schmaltz  | | Palermo 

1810.  Per  le  stampe  di  Sanfilippo.  | | Con  Ap- 

provazione.  | 8vo,  pp.  (4)  1-105,  xx  pll.  (77  figures). 
Dated  “Palermo,  Aprile  1,  1810.’’ 

Notice  of,  and  extracts  from,  this  work  may  be  found  in  Isis, 
Band  22,  Heft  5,  pp.  534- 538  (Leipzig,  1829). 

2.  Indice  | d’Ittiologia  Siciliana  | ossia  | Catalogo 
Metodico  dei  Nomi  Latini  | Italiani,  e Siciliani  dei 


166 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  0HIENS1S 


Pesci,  clie  | si  Rinvengono  in  Sicilia  | Disposti  | Se- 
condo  un  Metodo  Naturale  | eseguito  | da  un  Appen- 
dice  che  contiene  la  Descrizione  | di  alcuni  nuovi 

Pesci  Siciliani  | Illustrato  da  due  Piance.  | | 

Opusculo  del  Signore  | C.  S.  Rafinesque  Schmaltz 

| | Messina  | Presso  Giovanni  del  Nobolo  | 

Con  Approvazzione  | 1810.  | | 8vo,  pp.  1-70, 

2 pll. 

3.  Principes  Fondamentaux  | de  j Somiologie  | 
ou  | les  loix  de  la  nomenclature  et  de  la  | classifica- 
tion de  l’empire  organique  | ou  des  animaux  et  des 
vegetaux  | contenant  les  Regies  essentielles  de  l’Art, 
de  leur  | imposer  des  noms  immuables  et  de  les  | 
classer  mdthodiquement  | par  C.  S.  Rafinesque- 

Schmaltz.  | | Palerme  | | De  l’lmprimerie 

de  Franc.  Abate,  | aux  depens  de  V Auteur.  | 1814.  | 
8vo,  pp.  50+. 

4.  Precis  | des  Decouvertes  et  Travaux  | Somio- 
logiques  | de  Mr.  C.  S.  Rafinesque-Schmaltz.  | entre 
1800  et  1814  | Ou  choix  raisonnd  de  ses  principales 
Decouvertes  | en  Zoologie  et  en  Botanique,  pour  ser- 

vir  | d’introduction  a ses  ouvrages  | futurs  | | De 

Linne  le  genie  il  a choisi  pour  guide.  | | Pa- 

lerme | Royale  Typographic  Militaire.  | 1814.  | Aux 
depens  de  V Auteur.  | 24mo,  pp.  1-55. 

5.  Specchio  delle  scienze  | o | giornale  enciclope- 
dico  di  Sicilia  | deposito  letterario  | delle  moderne 
cognizioni,  scoperte,  ed  osservazioni  | sopra  le  scienze 
ed  arti  | E.  particolarmente  sopra  la  Fisica,  la  Chi- 
mica,  la  | Storia  Naturale,  la  Botanica,  1’ Agricoltura, 
la  Me-  | dicina,  il  Commercio,  la  Legislazione,  l’Edu- 

ca-  | zione  ec.  | | Tomo  primo  | prima  annata  e 

primo  semestre.  | Instruire  utilement,  est  le  but  ou 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


167 


j’aspire.  | | Palermo  | Della  Tipografia  di  Fran- 

cesco Abate  Qm.  Domenico.  | 1814.  | Large  8vo,  pp. 
1-216,  2 pll. 

In  the  first  number  of  the  first  volume  of  this  rare  work,  Rafi- 
nesque  has,  under  date  of  “ 1 Gennaro  1814,”  a single  paper  on 
fishes.  The  title  is  “ Descrizione  d’un  nuovo  genere  di  Pesce.  Lep- 
topus peregrinus  ” (no.  i.,  pp.  16,  17).  In  number  x.,  which  forms 
a portion  of  the  second  volume,  there  are  two  titles  which  relate  to 
fishes,  as  follows:  “ Osservazioni  sopra  le  migrazioni  dei  Pesci,”  pp. 
97-100;  “Descrizione  di  un  Nuovo  Genere  di  Pesce  Siciliano. 
Nemochirus  erythropterus,"  pp.  100 -102. 

6.  Analyse  | de  la  Nature  | ou  | Tableau  de  L’U- 

nivers  [ et  | des  Corps  Organises  | | par  C.  S. 

Rafinesque  | De  l’lnstitut  des  Sciences  naturelles  de 
Naples,  et  | de  la  Societe  Italienne  des  Sciences  et 

des  arts.  | | La  Nature  est  mon  guide,  et  Lin- 

neus  mon  maitre.  | | Palerme  | 1815.  | | 

Aux  depens  de  l’Auteur.  | 8vo,  pp.  1-224. 

7.  Museum  of  Natural  Sciences.  By  C.  S.  Rafi- 

nesque, Esquire.  4.  Dissertation  on  Water  Snakes, 
Sea  Snakes  and  Sea  Serpents.  ( American  Monthly 

Magazine  and  Critical  Review,  vol.  i.,  no.  6,  pp.  431  — 
435;  New  York,  1817.  Reprinted,  with  same  title, 
in  The  Philosophical  Magazine  and  Journal , vol.  liii. , 
pp.  41 1,  412;  London,  1819.) 

This  paper  describes  Anguilla  gig  as,  an  imaginary  form. 

8.  14.  First  Decade  of  new  North -American 

Fishes.  ( American  Monthly  Magazine  and  Critical 

Review , vol.  ii. , no.  2,  pp.  120,  121;  New  York, 

1817. ) 

9. - 15.  Introduction  to  the  Ichthyology  of  the 

United  States.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  no.  3,  pp.  202,  203; 

1818. ) 


10. 


16.  Descriptions  of  two  new  genera  of 


168 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  O HIE  NS  IS 


North  American  Fishes,  Opsanus  and  Notropis. 
(. Ibid .,  vol.  ii. , no.  3,  pp.  203,  204;  1818.) 

1 1.  17.  Second  Decade  of  new  North-Ameri- 

can  Fishes.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  no.  3,  pp.  204-206;  1818.) 

12.  Discoveries  in  Natural  History,  made  during 
a Journey  through  the  Western  Region  of  the  United 
States.  {Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  no.  5,  pp.  354-356;  1818.) 

This  is  a letter  to  Samuel  L.  Mitchill,  President,  and  the  other 
members  of  the  New  York  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  dated  from 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  20,  1818.  It  names  thirteen  genera  and 
twenty-six  species  of  fishes,  using  provisional  names  which  were 
afterward,  in  some  instances,  changed. 

13.  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Further  Dis- 
coveries in  Natural  History,  made  during  a Journey 
through  the  Western  Region  of  the  United  States. 
{Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  no.  6,  pp.  445-447;  1818.) 

This  title  adds  eight  genera  and  twenty-two  species  to  the  list 
published  in  the  preceding  title. 

14.  Discoveries  in  Natural  History  made  during 
a journey  through  the  Western  Region  of  the  United 
States.  {Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  no.  1,  pp.  39-42;  1818.) 

This  paper  describes  both  the  genus  and  species  following: 
Pomoxis  annularis , Noturus  flavus  and  Sarchirus  vittatus. 

15.  General  Account  of  the  Discoveries  made  in 
the  Zoology  of  the  Western  States  in  1818.  {Ibid., 
vol.  iv.,  no.  2,  p.  107;  1818.) 

16.  Description  of  a New  Genus  of  North  Ameri- 
can Fresh-water  Fish,  Exoglossum.  {American  Jour- 
nal of  Science,  1st  series,  vol.  i.,  pp.  155,  156;  New 
York,  1818.) 

This  paper  describes  Exoglossum.  vittatum  and  Exoglossum 
annulatum. 

17.  Description  of  three  new  genera  of  fluviatile 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


169 


Fish,  Pomoxis,  Sarchirus,  and  Exoglossum.  By  C. 
S.  Rafinesque.  Read  Dec.  ist,  and  8th.  (. Journal 

Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  vol.  i.,  part  ii.,  pp.  417- 
422,  1 pi.;  Philadelphia,  1818.) 

This  paper  describes  Potnoxis  annularis , Sarchirus  vittatus , 
Exoglossum  macropterum,  Exoglossum  annulatum,  Exoglossum 
nigrescens , and  Exoglossu?n  lesurianum. 

18.  Prodrome  de  70  nouveaux  Genres  D’Animaux 
decouverts  dans  l’intdrieur  des  Etats-Unis  D’Ame- 
rique,  durant  l’annee  1818.  {Jour,  de  Physique , de 
Chemie  et  D' Histoire  Naturelle,  et  des  Arts,  etc.,  tome 
88,  pp.  417-429;  Paris,  1819.  See  also,  Isis,  Littera- 
rischer  Anzeiger,  pp.  236-244;  Leipzig,  1820.) 

This  paper  has  notice  of  fifteen  genera  and  adds  to  the  previous 
lists  seventeen  species. 

19.  Natural  History  of  the  Fishes  of  the  Ohio 
River  and  its  Tributary  Streams.  By  C.  S.  Rafi- 
nesque. Introduction.  River  Ohio.  ( Western  Re- 
view and  Miscellaneous  Magazine,  vol.  i.,  pp.  305  -313; 
December,  1819.) 

20.  Description  of  the  River  Ohio  [con- 

cluded]. Fishes  of  the  Ohio.  {Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  pp.  361  - 
377;  January,  1820.) 

21.  Fishes  of  the  River  Ohio  [continued]. 

{Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  49-57;  February,  1820.) 

22.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  169-  177;  April, 

1820.) 

23.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  235-242;  May, 

1820.) 

24.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  299-307;  June, 

1820.) 

25. - 
1820.) 


{Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  355-363;  July, 


170 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENS1S 


26.  (Ibid.,  vol.  iii. , pp.  165-173;  Oc- 

tober, 1820.) 

27.  (Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  244-252;  No- 

vember, 1820.) 

28.  Ichtbyologia  Ohiensis  | or  | Natural  History  | 
of  | the  Fishes  Inhabiting  the  | River  Ohio  | and  its 
Tributary  Streams,  | Preceded  by  a physical  descrip- 
tion of  the  Ohio  and  its  branches.  ] By  C.  S.  Rafi- 
nesque,  | . . . . | Lexington,  Kentucky.  [ Printed 
for  the  Author  by  W.  G.  Hunt,  (price  one  dollar.) 

| | 1820.  | (One  volume,  8vo,  pp.  1-90.) 

The  several  preceding  titles  which  are  credited  to  The  Western 
Review  and  Miscellaneous  Magazine  constitute  the  first  publica- 
tion of  the  Ichthyologia.  The  volume  was  made  up  from  sheets 
printed  at  the  same  time  and  from  slightly  modified  forms,  without 
other  change.  Finally  the  errors  were  collated  and  rectified,  and 
an  index  added.  This  constitutes  the  book  now  so  rare  and  so 
greatly  desired  by  workers  in  ichthyology. 

29.  Description  of  the  Silures,  or  Catfishes  of  the 
River  Ohio.  (Quarterly  Journal  of  Science,  Literature, 
and  Arts,  Royal  Institution,  vol.  ix.,  p.  48;  London, 
1820.) 

This  paper  describes  eleven  species  of  Silurus  and  six  varieties. 
Three  of  these  varieties  fall,  as  synonyms,  under  the  single  species 
Silurus  pallidus. 

30.  Remarques  sur  quelques  Erreurs  en  Ichthyolo- 
giques.  (Annales  Generales  des  Sciences  Physiques, 
tome  vi.,  p.  369;  [Bruxelles,]  1820.) 

31.  Annals  of  Nature  | or  | Annual  Synopsis  | of 
New  Genera  and  Species  of  Animals,  Plants,  &c.  | 

discovered  in  North  America:  | | by  C.  S. 

Rafinesque,  | Professor  of  Botany  and  Natural  His- 
tory in  Transylvania  University,  at  Lexington  | 
in  Kentucky,  and  Member  of  several  Learned 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


171 


Societies  in  the  | United  States  and  in  Europe,  &c. 

| | Exertion  unfolds  and  increases  knowledge. 

| | First  Annual  Number,  for  1820.  | j 

Dedicated  to  Dr.  W.  E.  Leach,  | of  the  British 
Museum,  London.  | [ Text  follows ] 8vo,  pp.  1-16; 
1820. 

32.  Enumeration  j and  Account  of  some  remark- 
able j Natural  Objects  in  the  Cabinet  | of  Professor 
Rafinesque,  in  Philadelphia,  | being  Animals,  Shells, 
Plants  | and  Fossils,  collected  by  him  | in  North 
America,  between  | 1816-1831  | by  C.  S.  Rafinesque 

| Professor  of  historical  and  natural  sciences  | Phila- 
delphia. | William  Sharpless,  Printer  | No.  2 Decatur 
Street.  | 9 pll. ; 1831. 

A manuscript  copy  of  this  work  exists  in  the  Zoological  Library 
of  Harvard  University. 

33.  First  Number,  For  the  Spring  of  1832.  | With 

two  figures,  | Melissa  and  Mammoth  Cave.  | Atlantic 
Journal,  | and  Friend  of  Knowledge;  | A cyclopedic 
Journal  and  Review  | of  universal  science  and  knowl- 
edge: | Historical,  Natural,  and  Medical  Arts  and 
Sciences:  | Industry,  Agriculture,  education,  and 
every  kind  of  useful  knowledge : | with  numerous 
figures.  | | Editor,  C.  S.  Rafinesque,  | Profes- 

sor of  Historical  and  Natural  Sciences,  and  Member 
of  several  j learned  societies  in  Paris,  Brussels,  Vien- 
na, Naples,  Bonn,  ] New  York,  Philadelphia,  Cincin- 
nati, Lexington,  &c.  | | Knowledge  is  the  mental 

food  of  man.  j | Contents  of  No.  1.  | [List  of  j6 

articles ] | Philadelphia:  | Published  Quarterly  at  the 
office  of  the  Atlantic  Journal,  | No.  59  North  Eighth 
Street,  and  Dobson’s  Bookstore,  No.  108  Chestnut 
Street;  where  subscriptions  are  received.  | Price  One 


172 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


Dollar,  per  Annum  in  advance,  or  Two  Dollars  for 
twelve  numbers.  | William  Sharpless,  Printer,  No.  2. 
Decatur  street.  | 1832. 

This  publication  contains,  in  number  4,  for  the  winter  of  1832, 
on  pp.  141,  142,  a short  paper  on  the  “Fishes  of  the  United 
States,”  and  this  contribution  is  the  last  which  Rafinesque  made  to 
ichthyology. 


Appendix 


At  an  auction  sale,  held  in  Philadelphia  in  the 
spring  of  1895,  the  editor  of  this  volume  secured  a 
copy  of  an  autograph  letter  of  Rafinesque  which  has 
especial  interest  in  connection  with  the  Ichthyologia. 
It  appears  that  it  had  been  the  original  plan  of  Rafi- 
nesque to  figure  all  the  forms  which  he  had  described 
as  new  from  the  Ohio ; but  his  plan  was  never  con- 
summated. The  letter  in  question  is  introduced  in 
this  place,  because  it  has  a characteristic  drawing 
illustrative  of  one  of  the  species  described  in  the 
Ichthyologia , and  is  one  of  the  very  few  in  existence 
thus  definitely  connected  with  specific  descriptions 
in  the  Fishes  of  the  River  Ohio.  This  letter  was 
addressed  to  “ The  Western  Museum  Society,  Care  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Drake,  Secretary,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.”  It 
bears  the  endorsement,  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr. 
Drake,  of  having  been  answered  on  the  29th  of 
August  following.  The  letter  reads : 

“ Lexington,  July  8th,  1820  — 
xt  Gentlemen  of  the  Western  Museum  Society. 

“ I have  not  yet  rec’d  your  Anniversary  Discourse, 
but  have  seen  one  sent  to  Mr.  Wilkins  of  this  town. 
It  is  upon  the  strength  of  your  public  invitation  in 
the  appendix  that  I presume  to  address  you. 

“ I would  be  happy  if  you  would  put  it  in  my 
power  to  be  useful  to  you,  in  the  manner  which  you 
intimate,  and  on  the  presumption  of  reciprocity. 


174 


ICHTHYOLOGIA  OHIENSIS 


“ Many  of  my  friends  in  Europe  ask  me  for  Birds, 
quadrupeds,  and  other  Animals  of  this  country  which 
I have  not  time  to  prepare  for  them;  but  I supply 
them  easily  with  plants  and  fossils.  If  you  have 
many  duplicates  of  Animals  to  spare  already,  I would 
exchange  them  with  pleasure  for  the  following  ar- 
ticles which  I have  now  to  spare. 

“ i.  Some  foreign  shells  from  Europe,  West 
Indies,  East  Indies  &c. 

“2.  Some  marine  shells  from  Long  Island,  some 
are  new  species  of  Nerita  &c. 

“3.  Other  American  shells  from  the  Potowmak, 
Hudson,  Kentucky,  Wabash,  also  rare  land  shells. 

“ 4.  Some  fossils  from  Kentucky. 

“5.  An  herbarium  of  the  Plants  of  Newyork  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  Kentucky  &c.  With  many 
new  genera  & species. 

“6.  A set  of  my  Works. 

“ Tell  me  how  the  valuation  & exchange  may  take 
place,  and  if  needful  I shall  repair  to  Cincinnati  in 
September  next,  in  order  to  Select  the  objects,  and 
take  any  other  necessary  arrangement. 

“ I have  sent  you  by  mail  some  time  ago  the  1 
Number  of  my  Annals  of  Nature.  I will  send  you 
when  ready  my  Ichthyology  of  the  Ohio,  now  pub- 
lishing in  the  Western  review  and  in  a pamphlet 
form. 

“ I send  you  annexed  the  sketch  of  the  fish  called 
Shad  in  Louisville  and  Pittsburg.  I have  called  it 
Pomolobus  chrysocliloris  in  my  Ichthyology  being  totally 
different  from  the  Atlantic  shad  which  is  the  Clupea 
sapidissima  of  Wilson’s  in  Ree’s  Cyclopedia,  and 
myself  in  American  Monthly  Magazine,  Decade  of 
New  Fishes.  If  your  shad  was  different  from  my 


APPENDIX 


175 


Pomolobus  I hope  some  one  of  you  may  furnish  me 
with  a sketch  of  it,  as  you  have  no  doubt  kept  one  in 
your  Museum. 

“ If  you  possess  any  other  fish,  omitted  in  my 
Ichthyology,  it  would  be  highly  gratifying  to  have 
also  sketches  of  them  or  descriptions,  in  order  that  I 
might  introduce  them  in  an  appendix. 

“ Believe  me  truly 

“ Gentlemen  Yr  Obedt  St 
“ C.  S.  Rafinesque, 

“Prof,  of  B.  & N.  hist.  Tn  Un.” 


Sketch  Referred  to  in  Above  Letter 
( Reduced  one-half. ) 


/ 


I 

Raf ine 
que 


is^r[ 


